‘More cities will follow soon’: After Delhi crackdown, CJP calls for Mumbai protest at 4 pm

Mumbai: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a protest in Mumbai at 4 pm on Sunday, escalating its agitation against the Centre following the mass detentions of protesters and party leaders in Delhi. Demonstrators have been asked to assemble at T Junction, Shivaji Park, as the group seeks to expand its protests to other cities.

Ajinkya Shinde, who was designated to lead the agitation after CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke was taken into custody, announced the demonstration and accused the Narendra Modi-led government of suppressing democratic rights through widespread detentions.

"Every Indian is angry that their beloved country is being turned into a Dictatorship by Modi and Shah. The manner in which tens of thousands of people were detained yesterday across Delhi and India will not go unchallenged. Across the country protests have started against the Dictatorship. In Mumbai, protesters will peacefully assemble at T Junction, Shivaji Park at 4 PM today. More cities will follow soon," Shinde said.

His remarks came a day after Delhi Police detained protesters, Opposition leaders and activists attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a CJP-led demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Shinde warned that the detention of CJP leaders would not stop the agitation and reiterated the demand for Kumar's resignation.

“The Govt has made a big mistake by arresting our leaders and clamping down on democracy. Gaddar Gyaanu Must Resign!” he added.

The Mumbai demonstration marks an attempt by the CJP to take its campaign beyond the national capital, with Shinde indicating that similar protests would be organised in other cities in the coming days.

Saturday's demonstrations in Delhi were met with extensive security arrangements, including restrictions on movement and the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations. More than 1,000 people were reportedly detained across the capital, including prominent Opposition leaders.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced on Sunday that all station gates had reopened and interchange facilities had been restored.

Abhijeet Dipke, two CJP leaders placed under preventive arrest

Meanwhile, Delhi Police confirmed on Sunday that CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke and two other party leaders, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, had been placed under preventive arrest.

The three were detained inside an aircraft shortly after their flight from Mumbai landed at Delhi airport on Saturday morning, ahead of the planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

A senior police officer said the three would be produced before an Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday.

The confirmation came after the CJP raised concerns over the whereabouts of its leaders, alleging that neither their families nor party representatives had been informed about their location for more than 12 hours following the detention.

"It's been 12 hours. No information. No accountability," the party said.

"You cannot make people disappear and call it democracy," it added.

The party had called for Saturday's demonstration to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and oppose the SIR exercise, amid allegations of "vote chori" and irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

With Dipke, Ranka and Das under preventive arrest, Shinde has assumed responsibility for coordinating the agitation, announcing the Mumbai demonstration and signalling plans for further protests across the country.