A protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park has generated opposition from local residents and a heated exchange between the residents and the CJP’s volunteers. The agitation is scheduled for October 2 and is linked to the party’s demands on the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The conflict was started when local residents objected to the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park. Residents expressed alarm at the way that repeated protests around the popular ground were disrupting homes in the vicinity and affecting traffic congestion, noise, movement, and emergency vehicle access in the area.
Shivaji Park Residents Raise Concerns
Members of the Shivaji Park Area Local Management group said their objection was not to the right to protest itself but to the use of a residential neighbourhood for large political gatherings. Residents say protests can disrupt normal movement in the area with crowds, barricades, parked vehicles, and police deployment affecting daily routines.
Residents also pointed out that there were senior citizens, children, schools, and other businesses around Shivaji Park. They said that designated protest locations could be considered for large political demonstrations to minimize disruption to residential areas.
The dispute got heated when residents confronted CJP members at the site. A video of the exchange was also shared on social media.
Mumbai Police Had Already Denied Permission
The dispute comes just days after Mumbai Police denied permission for the CJP’s proposed October 2 protest at Shivaji Park. Police cited restrictions on the use of the ground, lack of needed civic permission, and noise and traffic concerns as reasons behind the decision.
Shivaji Park is a residential neighborhood and is a silence zone, the police said. A large gathering could also lead to traffic congestion and could affect emergency vehicles going to hospitals in the area.
Police referred to a 2013 Bombay High Court order concerning the use of Shivaji Park and said the ground could not be used for such a gathering without the necessary permissions. They advised the organisers to look for another venue for the proposed protest.
The civic permission issue has also been unresolved. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that CJP had not obtained permission to use the ground for the October 2 programme.
CJP Announces 'Jail Bharo Andolan'
Despite the police rejection, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has said that the organisation will continue with its protest plans. Dipke, after the refusal of permission, announced a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' in Mumbai on October 2, which is Gandhi Jayanti.
The organisation had earlier announced a nationwide agitation starting from Mumbai. Its demands are Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and changes in the functioning of the Election Commission. The agitation was proposed due to the party's deadline for the CEC to step down.
Dipke condemned the police decision and said the denial amounted to limiting citizens' voices. CJP later maintained that it would continue with its plan.
Protest Plans Face Multiple Challenges
The recent encounter with residents adds further tension to the October 2 programme. CJP has said it would protest but there are administrative, legal, and public-order issues about the proposed venue.
The immediate issue for residents is the effect of a large gathering on the surrounding neighbourhood. Traffic, noise, crowd management, and access for emergency services are among their concerns, police have also cited as reasons permission was not granted.
At the same time, CJP has continued to frame the proposed protest around its demands on the Election Commission. The organization's announcement of a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' indicates that it is going to continue its campaign despite the permission issue.
Now, as October 2 approaches, it is uncertain whether CJP will be able to hold any gathering at Shivaji Park despite the lack of police permission and the objections of residents. Any decision will be made dependent on the relevant permissions, directions from the authorities, and the organisation’s next steps.
For now, the Shivaji Park dispute has brought together three different issues—the organisers’ stated plans to protest, residents’ concerns about the effects of demonstrations on their neighbourhood, and the police’s restrictions on the proposed venue. The situation is under watch ahead of the programme on October 2.
