Abhijeet Dipke Announces ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ in Mumbai on October 2

Mumbai: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ in Mumbai on October 2, after Mumbai Police denied permission for the organisation’s proposed protest at Shivaji Park on Gandhi Jayanti. Dipke announced the move in a post on X on Monday.

“Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai. October 2, Shivaji Park. #SaveDemocracy,” Dipke wrote. The announcement followed the police decision not to permit the planned gathering at the venue.

Why did Mumbai Police deny permission?

According to police, the department was not authorised to permit a public gathering at Shivaji Park under an earlier Bombay High Court order and subsequent Maharashtra government guidelines. Authorities also cited the lack of mandatory civic permission and concerns over noise pollution and traffic congestion.

Police said Shivaji Park is in a residential area and designated as a silence zone. They also raised concerns that a large gathering could disrupt traffic and affect the movement of emergency vehicles serving hospitals in the vicinity. Organisers were advised to consider an alternative location in Mumbai.

What is CJP demanding?

The proposed protest is part of the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The organisation has called for Kumar’s resignation and has raised demands related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It has also sought changes to the legal framework governing the appointment and functioning of election commissioners.

The CJP’s campaign follows a report by The Indian Express about objections reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on several decisions concerning voter registration, deletion and restoration of names and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of institutional deliberations and maintained that its decisions follow statutory procedures.

Dipke had warned of the agitation

Before Monday’s formal announcement, Dipke had said that the CJP would launch a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ if authorities prevented it from holding the October 2 protest.

He criticised the denial of permission and said such restrictions were unacceptable. The CJP subsequently confirmed the October 2 agitation in Mumbai.

Alternative venue suggested

Mumbai Police has said that organisers could submit a fresh application for another venue, where it would be considered by the competent authority under applicable rules.

The police’s decision specifically concerned the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park; reports did not indicate that the authorities had granted permission for the announced ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ at that location.

The October 2 announcement comes amid the wider political and institutional debate over the Election Commission, electoral-roll revisions and the SIR exercise.