Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes Privatization of JP NIC, Questions Governments Intentions

Lucknow, August 26: Akhilesh Yadav, the National President of the Samajwadi Party, has sharply criticized the Yogi government’s decision to hand over the Jay Prakash Narayan International Centre (JP NIC) in Lucknow to private entities.

In a video statement, Akhilesh accused the BJP government of advancing the privatization of public assets. He stated, “Is the BJP government a government or a shopkeeper? The state government has now decided to transfer JP NIC to private hands. Soon, it will only be left to give the government itself on contract or sell it off.”

Akhilesh also alleged that the BJP is engaging in corruption through commissions and privatization.

It is noteworthy that the decision to transfer the operation of JP NIC, which was developed during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party government, has now been approved for private management. During a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the proposal to lease JP NIC to Vrindavan Bottlers Private Limited and Rockwood Hotels and Resorts Private Limited for 30 years was approved.

According to the decision, the selected company will pay an annual lease rent of six crore rupees to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), with a provision for a five percent increase each year. This ambitious center, which has been dormant for a long time, is now set to be operationalized through private management. An advance payment of 10.11 crore rupees and a performance guarantee of 25 crore rupees will be required from the selected company. So far, 821.74 crore rupees have been spent on the project.

The funds received from the lease will be collected with interest and returned to the state government by the LDA. Initially, a 35-year contract was proposed for the operation and maintenance of JP NIC. Now, based on mutual consent, the contract can be extended for 30 years initially and then for another 25 years. Under this agreement, the responsibility for the long-term operation and maintenance of the project will lie with the private operator.

Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that the LDA will return 857 crore rupees to the state government over 30 years, including interest. Additionally, JP NIC will be made available to the government for free for 50 days each year for official events. The government has already dissolved the previously formed three-tier society for the operation of JP NIC and transferred the project to the LDA, clearing the way for its private management.