Row Over Entry to JP Centre: Akhilesh Yadav Asks Nitish Kumar to Withdraw Support From BJP-Led NDA

Lucknow: Amid a political tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) over garlanding the statue of Jayaprakash Narayan at the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar on his 122nd birth anniversary on Friday, Akhilesh Yadav suggested Bihar Chief Minister and JDU president Nitish Kumar to withdraw his party's support from the BJP -led NDA government at the Centre.

Akhilesh Yadav suggested Nitish Kumar to pull back from NDA govt "which is not allowing the Socialist to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary..."

Addressing a gathering, the SP supremo said Nitish should make the suggested move since the JDU leader himself emerged from his (Jai Prakash Narayan) movement.

"Many of the Socialist people are in the govt and helping the govt to continue. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar emerged from his (Jai Prakash Narayan) movement, this is a chance for Nitish Kumar to withdraw support from the govt which is not allowing the Socialist to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary...," said Akhilesh Yadav.

The SP leader further noted that there are lot of "socialist people" who are part of the government and involved in running the system. He suggested that they should also also withdraw support from the govt.

The row erupted late last night after Yadav, who was denied the permission to visit the JPNIC due to "construction work and possibility of many insects due to rain",  tore into the BJP over barring the entrance. Last year as well, Yadav was not given permission to visit the site. The former UP Chief Minister jumped over a wall to garland the statue late last night.