New Delhi: The protest campaign led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the functioning of the Election Commission has intensified, with the group now calling for a larger nationwide mobilisation from October 10. CJP leaders have said the movement will continue even if its key members are arrested.
The protests are centred on demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing controversy surrounding revisions to electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision process is aimed at removing duplicate, deceased and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain on the rolls.
CJP Leaders Claim Possible Arrests
On Monday, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that the government was planning to arrest him along with party founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Ratna Singh and other leaders. The CJP said its members were prepared for possible detention and urged supporters to continue the protests. These claims have been made by the party and have not been independently established as a government decision.
Around 110 Detained in Delhi
The latest protests have also seen police action in Delhi. According to reports, around 110 people were detained during Sunday’s demonstration. Police have been restricting gatherings in central Delhi amid the continuing protests.
FIR Registered After Mumbai Protest
The developments have also reached Mumbai, where police registered an FIR against the organisers and around 400 to 500 unidentified people following the CJP’s October 2 protest at Shivaji Park. The case includes allegations related to unlawful assembly and disobedience of a lawful order. No arrests had been reported in that case at the time of the report.
The CJP has announced that its campaign will continue, with October 10 being projected by its leaders as the next major mobilisation date. Meanwhile, the Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of wrongdoing surrounding the voter-roll revision process.