Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), speaks during the Mumbai protest

If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign...: Dipke announces CJP's Jantar Mantar return

If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign...: Dipke announces CJP's Jantar Mantar return

by · India Today

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced plans to return to Delhi's Jantar Mantar for a fresh protest on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign. A day after thousands turned up at Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park to protest against the CEC despite police denying permission, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke indicated plans to escalate its agitation.

The CJP, which spearheaded a massive month-long agitation at Jantar Mantar just months ago over exam paper leaks, forcing Dharmendra Pradhan to quit as Education Minister, has sought Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The immediate trigger for the CJP protest against Kumar was an Indian Express investigation that revealed an internal rift within the Election Commission.

"If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi and protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10," Dipke tweeted.

"If Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar," he further said.

Dipke, however, made it clear that the demonstration would be peaceful, warning Delhi Police and the government against repeating the "brutality" witnessed on July 20.

"We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. It is up to the govt and the Delhi Police whether they respect our right to peaceful protest or repeat the brutality we witnessed on July 20," Dipke said.

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