NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor Saurav Das on Wednesday submitted a formal notice to the Delhi Police informing them about the party’s proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, where it plans to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Das submitted the letter at Parliament Street police station, saying the party had formally informed the police to avoid any dispute later over whether authorities had been notified about the demonstration.However, police officials denied permission for the proposed protest on October 10.He said the CJP would cooperate with the police during the protest and expected the police to do the same.Questioning the need for police “permission” for a protest at a designated demonstration site, Das said the police’s role should be to ensure the safety of protesters, maintain law and order and regulate traffic rather than decide whether citizens could protest.“Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site and a historic place where protests are held peacefully,” Das said.He also launched a sharp attack on Kumar, calling the CEC a “traitor” and “anti-national” and making allegations about his conduct.The October 10 protest was announced by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke after the party’s October 2 demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. Dipke had said CJP activists from across the country would march to Delhi if Kumar did not resign.
CJP alleges activists being pressured
The Delhi protest comes amid allegations by Dipke that CJP activists in Maharashtra were being pressured not to attend the agitation.At a press conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Tuesday, Dipke alleged that Chandrapur police had issued notices to CJP workers, questioning them about the source of funds for their travel to Delhi and asking them not to participate in the October 10 protest.He also questioned how police could know in advance that the proposed agitation would turn violent.The CJP has been protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and demanding Kumar’s resignation. The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of differences within the three-member poll panel and said decisions related to SIR were taken unanimously.
