CJP takes anti-SIR protest to Bengaluru with Dhruv Rathee as Delhi Police refuse permission for 10 October Jantar Mantar rally

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the youth-led protest movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke in May, is holding a rally in Bengaluru on Thursday. Its bigger test comes on Saturday, 10 October, when it plans to protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar even though Delhi Police have refused permission. “Jantar Mantar”, “Rakesh Tikait” and “Dhruv Rathee” were all among India’s top Google searches over the past day.

Bengaluru today: a ‘People’s Tribunal’ on SIR

The Bengaluru event is due to begin at 10.30 am on Thursday at Freedom Park, the city’s designated protest site. According to The Week, it opens with a “People’s Tribunal”, where voters from across Karnataka who say they were wrongly removed from the electoral rolls can speak. A “chappal protest” in solidarity with women follows.

The protest targets the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, which the organisers want scrapped. Actor Prakash Raj announced on Wednesday that YouTuber Dhruv Rathee would attend as a special guest. Student leaders Aishe Ghosh and Neha Bora are also expected.

Delhi on 10 October: permission refused

In Delhi, the CJP is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and changes to how the Election Commission works. Co-convenor Saurav Das said he submitted a letter informing Parliament Street police station of the protest. According to NewsDrum, permission was later denied. Das argued that citizens only need to inform the police, not seek their approval, and said the protest would be peaceful.

NewsDrum also reported that the Supreme Court recently declined to suspend Kumar on the basis of news reports alone.

Farmers’ union backs the protest

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has announced the union’s full support. According to India Daily, BKU’s Uttar Pradesh youth president Anuj Singh urged supporters to come to Delhi in groups and warned police against confrontation.

Police step up security

Citing police sources, India TV reported that no sit-in will be allowed in the New Delhi district. About 4,000 personnel are expected in the area, and police have sought at least 20 companies of central forces. Checks and extra barricades are going up at entry points from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Police are also tracking bus bookings to Delhi and have asked PG owners to advise students not to join.

Background

The CJP takes its name from a Chief Justice’s remark comparing unemployed young people to “cockroaches”. It first came to national attention in June and July with protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. Those protests ended after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned in late July. Its focus has since moved to the Election Commission and the SIR.

Sources: The Week, NewsDrum, India TV, India Daily, Wikipedia.