ECI-SIR Row: After months of protesting separately for a common goal, pressure group Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and major opposition party Congress have softened their stance against each other. In the past two days, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have asserted that the demonstrations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar should not be seen differently. They have also criticized the police action in the recent demonstrations held by both the groups in Delhi.
Dipke, RaGa Slam Centre
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi heavily criticized the centre after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody for five days for trespassing at Jantar Mantar. Gandhi asserted that while the demonstrations are being held under different banners, the cause is one.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dipke, while addressing the reporters, praised INDIA Bloc for protesting against the alleged poll rigging. He highlighted that all such forces should come together and protest until the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. "Such protests will continue across the country until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. We hope that this happens," Dipke stated.
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Fight For A Common Goal
In the past two weeks, CJP and Congress separately held several high-profile protests in Delhi against the alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission. While the CJP held a protest at Jantar Mantar protest site on October 10, the INDIA Bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court on October 12. They have demanded CEC Kumar's resignation and a detailed probe into the alleged irregularities.
Will They Protest Together?
While none of the groups have confirmed of a joint protest, both Congress and CJP could come together to amplify their voices. Neha Bora, AISA President, was among the leaders protesting alongside Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi during their march on October 12. Bora had accompanied Dipke and team during their first demonstration against then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
A massive row erupted after an Indian Express report revealed that the suggestions of election commissioners Sukhbir Sandhu and Vivek Joshi were not addressed multiple times during the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.