UP Minister slams Modi government for using Jai Prakash Memorial for political gains

Ballia: Attacking the Narendra Modi government, Uttar Pradesh Minister Ambika Chaudhary, on Saturday, criticised the centre for creating controversy over birth place of Jai Prakash Narain.

"It is a known fact that initiator of complete revolution Loknayak was born in Sitabdiara in Ballia, which is now known as J P Nagar," Chaudhary said.

He said that Jai Prakash was born in a room where J P Trust is situated and that place is still there. He also claimed that later Jai Prakash constructed his house here. After his death former Prime Minister Chandrashekar set up the trust at the same place, he added.

Chaudhary said that the Centre can build a memorial in the memory of great leader at any place in the country and do any other thing and it will be welcomed.

"But an attempt to create confusion by terming Lala ka Tola in Bihar as the birth place of Jai Prakash is very sad and unfortunate," he said.

"If the central government wants to take benefit in the election year by creating confusion over birth place of Jai Prakash, it is not a right act," he added.

Earlier, taking exception to central government decision to set up a national memorial for Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan in a Bihar village, his family had said that JP was not born there though its his native place.

"Terming Lala ka Tola village of Bihar as the birthplace of Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan is wrong though it is our native village", his niece Anju Sinha nee Mitra had said.

"Just before the birth of JP, his mother came to the area in UP which is now called Jai Prakash Nagar as there was an outbreak of plague there", she said adding that JP was born in a room of the building of today's Jai Prakash Narayan Nyas.

Sinha said that Lala ka Tola is the old village of the family but if any memorial has to come up at his birthplace it should be here in Jai Prakash Nagar.

On June 24,the Centre announced setting up of a National Memorial for Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan popularly known as 'JP' a day ahead of the 40th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency.

The memorial would be built at Lala Ka Tola village in Chhapra district of Bihar and also have a virtual museum and an institute.