MUMBAI: Lyricist Javed Akhtar quipped after residents of Shivaji Park objected to the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest at the venue, saying he was “hundred percent sure” that they would raise the same objection whenever a political party held a jalsa there.In a post on X, Akhtar said, “I am so happy that some residences of Shivaji park are getting sensitive about the noise pollution and asking the authorities to cancel the protest of CJP today at Shivaji park . I am hundred percent sure that they will raise the same objection with the same intensity if not more when ever there is any jalsa of any political party of Maharashtra is planned at Shivaji park.”Activists of the CJP and other civil society organisations are staging a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park against the Election Commission and what they allege are irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.Heavy police deployment was seen at Shivaji Park on Friday in view of the protest call.CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was a “traitor” and claimed that the whole country would support calls for his ouster.“As you can see, we are starting from Mumbai today. This is going to be a very big protest. Mumbai showed last time what the spirit of Mumbai is. The youth of the whole country, the young generation, everyone came out last time for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.”“And this time too, it is going to be the same with Gyanesh Kumar, who is a traitor to the country. The youth of Mumbai are hitting the streets again. Today, a massive protest is going to happen at Shivaji Park. And I want, I appeal to all the Mumbaikars and our friends. Everyone come,” Das said.
Shivaji Park residents oppose protest
A few residents of Shivaji Park have objected to the park being used as a protest site, citing inconvenience to people living in the area.Local resident Sunil Bhagwat, while talking to reporters, said people regularly visit Shivaji Park for walks and claimed that frequent protests were causing inconvenience to the common people.“We come here for walks in this park, but many protests have been happening here recently. Who is responsible for the troubles being caused to the common people? Did the Constitution not explain your duties towards the rest of the people? Who is responsible for the problems the common man here faces?” he said.Another resident, Ravindra, referred to the previous protest at the venue and said the crowd had reached Dadar Shivaji Park station and there were bottles of liquor thrown.“The previous time these people protested, they said that it was a spontaneous protest. There was such a huge crowd that it reached Dadar Shivaji Park station itself. Bottles of liquor were thrown at those who came here, and these people, the ones who call them ‘Jengi’, call them here by lying,” Ravindra said.He also raised concerns over the presence of schools and a hospital near the protest site, claiming that traffic movement had been affected during the previous protest.“There are two schools and a hospital here. Cars couldn’t pass through; around 5:00 PM, school was getting over and the school kids were stuck in their vehicles anyway. We all believe in the Constitution but the Constitution hasn’t given permission to these people, right? If the law and the Constitution haven’t granted permission, then what force are they using to come here?” he said.
