Yogi, Akhilesh pay homage to ‘Loknayak’ on birth anniversary

Lucknow: Rich tributes were paid to socialist icon ‘Loknayak’ Jayaprakash Narayan on Sunday on his birth anniversary, with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that his voice became the powerful tone of democratic consciousness during the ‘Emergency’ period.

Adityanath on X said, “On the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter, the epoch-making figure of Indian politics, ‘Bharat Ratna’, ‘Loknayak’ Jayaprakash Narayan, humble tributes.”

“In the difficult times of the ‘Emergency’, his voice became the powerful tone of democratic consciousness. His fearless struggle and life of sacrifice inspire us to place the Constitution above power, principles above position, and the national interest above self,” he said. While remembering the Indian freedom fighter, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took potshots at the ruling BJP, saying, “In the BJP regime, honouring freedom fighters is no less than fighting a ‘second freedom movement’. On the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan ji, countless salutations!”

“The BJP members whose ideological ancestors acted as informants for the enemies of the country, what respect will they show to freedom fighters?” Yadav said on X.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya recalled how JP Narayan’s launched “sampoorna kranti” (total revolution) against then prime minister Indira Gandhi over inflation and employment.