NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to hold a “Jail Bharo Andolan” against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park today, with founder Abhijeet Dipke making a fresh appeal to people to join the protest.In a new video, Dipke was seen posing with an auto driver as the two urged commuters and residents to gather at the protest venue. “Chala chala shivaji park.. shivaji park… shivaji park…,” the caption reads.The auto driver in the video can be heard saying ‘Shivaji Park 4 baje’.The CJP has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” against Kumar at Shivaji Park at 4pm, Gate No. 6, demanding Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Protest planned across citiesMassive protests are planned in Delhi and Mumbai today, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) set to launch its nationwide agitation from Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), All India Students’ Association (AISA), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) have announced a separate demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.The CJP has said its agitation will be expanded to other parts of the country.“Appointment of CEC should be transparent; there should be involvement of civil society,” Dipke said in Mumbai.Why are protests being held against Gyanesh Kumar?The CJP and opposition parties have criticised Kumar over the SIR of electoral rolls and demanded his resignation.Their criticism intensified after it emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to certain decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.The Election Commission later clarified that the three-member commission had taken all decisions, including those relating to the SIR, unanimously.Police deny permission in Delhi, MumbaiPolice in both Delhi and Mumbai have denied permission for the proposed protests. In Delhi, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force across the New Delhi district, restricting public meetings or assemblies of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing and dharnas without prior written permission.
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Delhi DCP said that the restrictions have been imposed to ensure public safety, maintain public order and facilitate smooth traffic movement.In Mumbai, police have also denied permission for the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park. Police said they were not authorised to permit such a gathering there in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order and described the area as a silence zone.Meanwhile, multi-layer barricades have been put up on roads leading to Jantar Mantar, including Tolstoy Marg, Janpath Road and Sansad Marg. The Delhi Metro has also closed entry and exit at 11 stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi, until further notice.
