CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Delhi: Protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revision and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise have been planned in Mumbai, Delhi and other cities on October 2. Different groups have announced separate programmes, with demands including Kumar’s resignation and changes in electoral procedures.
In Mumbai, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park at 4 p.m. on October 2. Dipke has appealed to supporters to join the gathering and said the campaign would continue until Kumar resigns.
Mumbai Police, however, have not granted permission for the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park. Police cited restrictions connected with a 2013 Bombay High Court order and advised organisers to seek an alternative venue. Dipke has said the CJP would proceed with its planned protest despite the lack of permission.
In Delhi, social activists and student groups have announced a separate demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police had also not granted permission for the proposed October 2 gathering as of October 1, while security arrangements and barricading were put in place around the area.
The INDIA bloc has separately announced a campaign concerning the Election Commission and the SIR exercise. Its announced programme includes district-level demonstrations from October 2 to 8, a proposed march to the Election Commission headquarters on October 6 and a larger rally in Delhi on November 1. These are demands and political claims made by the organisers; the Election Commission has defended its procedures.
The proposed demonstrations come amid an ongoing political and legal debate over electoral-roll revision and the functioning of the Election Commission. The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR process is intended to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls, while opposition parties and protest organisers have raised objections to the exercise.
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