- CJP protests at Shivaji Park demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
- Demands include pausing SIR, restoring voter list, and EC law repeal.
- Police denied permission for protest; security tightened at Dadar station.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) will hold a protest today at Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar area, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstration will start at 4 pm at Gate Number 6 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.
On Thursday, the CJP has also warned of launching protests across the country, followed by a stir at Jantar Mantar in Delhi if Kumar does not resign from his post. "Gyanesh Kumar should resign and should face criminal charges," CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday. "I am not afraid of going to jail. I will come back to protest again and again and again," the CJP leader said when asked about police denying them permission. Upon asking about the planned protest of opposition MPs, on October 6, the CJP said that it would not be a part of any political programme and will remain an independent movement.
Dipke urged supporters to wear Mahatma Gandhi t-shirts, carry the Tricolour, apply sunscreen and come on a full stomach. Brushing off detention threats, he said even three months in jail would not stop the agitation. The protest will travel to Bengaluru, Kolkata, Patna, UP and Ranchi before an indefinite sit-in at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
What are the demands of CJP
The CJP has put three major demands for the Centre. Firstly, it demanded the immediate resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and the initiation of criminal proceedings against him.
The Gen-Z-led party has also sought a pause on the SIR process and the full restoration of the January 2025 voter list.The Dipke-founded party urged the repeal of the 2023 law governing the Election Commission along with broader structural reforms.
Security Tightened At Dadar Station
The railway authorities have tightened security at Dadar station ahead of the proposed Shivaji Park protest.
Around 40 additional staff, including Railway Protection Force personnel, have been stationed at the station, a Central Railway spokesperson said. A Western Railway spokesperson said 50 additional staff and RPF personnel had been deputed.
Dadar is part of both the Western and Central Railway networks and is among Mumbai's busiest railway stations. It is also the closest major station to Shivaji Park.
Mumbai Police Denies Permission
The Mumbai police said it was “not empowered to grant permission” for gatherings at Shivaji Park under a 2013 Bombay High Court order. It also pointed to rules on public gatherings, traffic management and noise. Dipke alleged that the move was aimed at silencing citizens.