Mumbai Police Deny CJP Permission for October 2 Protest at Shivaji Park

Mumbai: Mumbai Police have denied permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest at Shivaji Park on October 2 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke reacted to the decision by announcing that the party would launch a “Jail Bharo Andolan” in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti if it is not allowed to hold the proposed protest. In a post on X, Dipke described the denial as an attempt to suppress citizens’ voices.

According to the police communication dated September 27, the Shivaji Park police said they were not empowered to grant permission for the proposed gathering because of restrictions arising from a Bombay High Court judgment in PIL No. 116 of 2009 and a subsequent Maharashtra government order issued in 2016.

The police also pointed to the absence of the required Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation permission for use of the ground. Shivaji Park is situated in a residential area and is designated as a silence zone, the police said, citing concerns over noise pollution, traffic congestion and possible obstruction to emergency vehicles travelling to nearby hospitals.

The organisers were advised to identify an alternative venue in Mumbai and submit a fresh application. Police said such an application would be considered by the competent authority under the applicable rules.

The proposed protest is part of the CJP’s campaign against the Election Commission and its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has also raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has called for changes to the law governing the Election Commission.

The planned mobilisation follows a report by The Indian Express concerning objections reportedly recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on at least 14 occasions over 10 months in connection with electoral roll procedures and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that differences and observations form part of its internal deliberations and that its decisions were taken unanimously.

Following the police decision, Dipke also questioned why political events had previously been held at Shivaji Park. He shared a video of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressing a gathering at the venue and asked how permission had been granted for that event.

CJP had earlier announced that it would begin a nationwide protest from Mumbai on October 2 if Gyanesh Kumar did not resign. The party has said its demands include the resignation of the CEC, criminal proceedings against him, freezing the SIR process and restoring the earlier electoral roll, as well as repeal of the 2023 law governing appointments to the Election Commission.

The dispute over the proposed protest comes amid a wider political and institutional debate surrounding the Election Commission, the SIR exercise and the functioning of the poll body. The police, meanwhile, have maintained that the organisers can seek permission for an alternative venue.