Yadav accused the Yogi Adityanath administration of engaging in “tin-sheet politics” after authorities blocked entry to the memorial using metal barricades, prompting him to label the action as disrespectful to both the memory of Narayan and democratic values. Last year, Yadav had scaled the gates to pay tribute, which heightened tensions between the two parties. This year’s barricade added to the controversy, with Samajwadi Party supporters taking to social media to condemn the move. They suggested that the BJP government might be planning to either sell or gift the property.
The JPNIC, envisioned to be a grand memorial for the legendary socialist, remains incomplete. The project was launched under Yadav's government in 2016, and the former chief minister inaugurated its construction. However, following the BJP’s electoral victory in 2017, progress on the centre stalled. Critics claim that the delay reflects the BJP’s unwillingness to complete a project associated with Yadav’s administration, while supporters of the ruling party argue that the construction freeze is part of broader urban development priorities.
The Samajwadi Party is using the incident to question the BJP’s commitment to honoring national leaders outside its ideological spectrum. This argument is part of a larger political narrative where opposition parties accuse the BJP of rewriting the nation’s historical memory to diminish figures that do not align with its Hindu-nationalist agenda. Yadav emphasized that Jayaprakash Narayan’s legacy transcends political divisions, calling him a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism, particularly for his role in opposing Indira Gandhi’s Emergency in the 1970s.
As the political storm surrounding the JPNIC grows, the BJP has yet to issue a comprehensive response addressing the claims of potential property dealings. However, traffic restrictions around the site were imposed ahead of the birth anniversary, and security measures have been heightened, further fueling speculation.