CJP, student groups intimate police on October 10 protest, permission denied

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and left-oriented student organisations formally intimated the Delhi Police about its proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP co-convenor Saurav Das submitted the letter at Parliament Street police station, saying the party had formally informed the police to avoid any dispute later over whether authorities had been notified about the demonstration. He said the CJP would cooperate with the police during the protest and expected the police to do the same. However, police officials denied permission for the proposed protest on October 10.

At a joint press conference here, the CJP and student organisations on Wednesday called for a united mobilisation against Kumar ahead of their October 10 protest, saying the agitation will continue until the electoral system is overhauled. The group sought to put their campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a broader political footing, backing the opposition INDIA bloc MPs’ October 6 protest march and describing the confrontation as one between people defending democracy and the BJP.

Wednesday’s press conference brought together the CJP, the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). The Aam Aadmi Party’s student wing, Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), also participated.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das urged people across the country to travel to Delhi and to come prepared for a prolonged agitation. “This fight is not going to be easy. I appeal to everyone across the country to join us, book train and flight tickets,” he said.

Even if Kumar resigns, the protesters will not step back because the electoral system needs to be cleaned up, Das said, alleging that the BJP’s pushback reflects a “lust for eternal power”. The demands outlined by Das include Kumar’s resignation and initiation of criminal proceedings against him; freezing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, halting upcoming elections, restoring the January 2025 voters’ list and ordering an independent inquiry; and repealing the 2023 law governing appointments to the ECI to establish an independent and credible selection process.

AISA president Neha Bora said there is no division between the students-led mobilisation and the opposition parties’ protests. Common people, civil society, Opposition parties and student organisations stand on one side and the ECI and the BJP on the other, she said.

“There are no divisions. We, the people of India, versus the BJP. If we lead this fight unitedly, we will do it effectively,” Bora said.

Backing the INDIA bloc MPs who tried to march towards the ECI office on Tuesday demanding Kumar’s resignation, she said elected representatives have a duty to take to the streets to raise people’s issues and defend their rights.

“That’s what the MPs of the INDIA bloc did,” she said, adding that the CJP and student organisations of opposition parties will lend strength to the October 10 protest. “If ever there was a time to desert the BJP, it is now,” Bora said, urging those in the BJP camp to join people seeking to defend democracy and the Constitution.

This projection of unity comes days after online sparring between the CJP and sections aligned with the Congress.

In July, a CJP-led agitation over the NEET paper leak had forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign as Union education minister. The group is now seeking to sustain street pressure against Kumar as protests against the ECI intensify ahead of October 10.

SFI’s Adarsh Shaji accused Kumar of undermining Indian democracy, describing the confrontation as a fight between “democracy and autocracy”.