'We will not bow down': CJP informs Delhi Police of October 10 Jantar Mantar protest

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has formally informed the Delhi Police about its proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, where it plans to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and reforms in the Election Commission of India (ECI).

CJP co-convener Saurav Das submitted the letter at the Parliament Street Police Station on Wednesday. He said the organisation expects a large turnout and has asked the police to make arrangements for law and order and traffic management. The Delhi Police, however, has denied permission for the proposed protest.

“We reached the Parliament Street Police Station, and I handed them a formal letter. We informed them that the 'Cockroach Janta Party' and the youth of the entire nation, all these 'cockroaches’, are set to gather at Jantar Mantar on October 10. We asked them to maintain law and order, cooperate with us, and make necessary traffic arrangements. We have provided this formal intimation,” Das said.

'Pack your bags', says Saurav Das

Das said the group would continue its campaign even if Gyanesh Kumar steps down. He said the protest is not limited to the demand for the CEC’s resignation and also seeks changes to the functioning and appointment process of the poll panel.

“Even if Gyanesh Kumar resigns, we will not bow down. We want proper reforms in election commission. Otherwise, the ECI will never be fair...We have to ensure that Kumar resigns and he is arrested. We want systemic reforms, freezing SIR, probing illegal decisions during SIR. Government should ensure people like Kumar don't sit at such position. Otherwise we won't return. I want everyone to come. Pack your bags. It will be a long fight,” he said.

The protest comes amid CJP’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities in decisions taken by the ECI.

CJP's three demands

The organisation has listed three demands for the October 10 protest:

• Gyanesh Kumar must resign and criminal proceedings should be initiated against him.

• SIR should be frozen, upcoming elections halted, the January 2025 voters’ list restored and an independent inquiry ordered.

• The 2023 ECI appointments law should be repealed and replaced with an independent selection process.

The CJP has described all three demands as “non-negotiable”.