The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” in Mumbai on October 2, after the Mumbai Police denied permission for their protest at Shivaji Park.
On Monday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared details about the protest, which is set to occur at Shivaji Park on Gandhi Jayanti.
“Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai. October 2, Shivaji Park,” Dipke posted on X, using the hashtag #SaveDemocracy. This protest is part of the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The party is demanding Kumar’s resignation and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, along with changes to the law concerning the appointment of election commissioners.
The Mumbai Police denied permission for the October 2 event at Shivaji Park, citing court orders and government guidelines regarding the venue. They also mentioned the absence of civic permission, the park’s status as a silence zone, and concerns about noise and traffic issues.
Authorities warned that heavy traffic could obstruct access to nearby hospitals and emergency services. Organizers were encouraged to find an alternative location and submit a new application.
Dipke previously indicated that the CJP would proceed with the “Jail Bharo Andolan” if their demonstration was blocked, calling the denial a tactic to silence citizens.
The CJP’s campaign is part of a larger conflict involving the Election Commission and the SIR process. The party seeks to freeze the electoral-roll revision and calls for legal reforms regarding the Election Commission.
Additionally, the CJP has claimed that its co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and other volunteers were detained by police in Assam, linking this incident to their broader campaign, although authorities have not confirmed all allegations.
As the protest date approaches, the CJP remains committed to moving forward with their jail-bharo campaign despite the denial of permission for the gathering at Shivaji Park.