CJP Plans October 10 Protest if Election Chief Does Not Resign

The Cockroach Janta Party says it will hold a peaceful protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has not resigned by then, extending demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The planned gathering has been announced by party founder Abhijeet Dipke; it has not yet taken place. Dipke and the party have also criticised Delhi Police over its handling of protests in the capital. They allege officers suppressed peaceful dissent and targeted students and activists. Delhi Police said protesters violated prohibitory orders imposed across New Delhi district under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, according to one account. The reports do not independently establish the competing claims about police conduct. The protests have called for Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Those allegations are the protesters’ stated basis for the demand and are not substantiated by the accounts reviewed. The material provided does not include a response from Kumar or the Election Commission to the allegations.