Mumbai: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke called for Hindu-Muslim unity at a large protest in Mumbai, saying divisive communal politics had no place in Maharashtra.
“This country will only move ahead if Hindus and Muslims stay together, and whoever wants to do such politics, let them go to Pakistan and do such politics,” Dipke said while addressing thousands of supporters at Shivaji Park on Gandhi Jayanti.
The rally was part of the CJP’s campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what the party describes as irregularities in electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission. Police denied permission for the event, yet more than 10,000 protesters gathered at the iconic ground, with heavy security deployed around the area.
Dipke warned that the movement would move to the national capital if Kumar did not step down. “If Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi and protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10,” he posted on X, adding that it would be a peaceful agitation and calling on every citizen who wants free and fair elections to participate.
The protest drew prominent public figures. Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi attended, as did filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, singer-music director Vishal Dadlani, and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
The CJP’s demand for electoral accountability and its call for communal harmony together drew attention to growing public concern over the independence of election institutions in India.
