Mumbai police on Sunday denied permission for the Cockroach Janta Party's October 2 protest at Shivaji Park against the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The reason for the denial was clarified as the possibility of traffic disruptions and lack of civil nod; they also cited High Court directives.
According to the officials, the application seeking permission for the CJP protest was filed by activist Ajinkya Shinde yesterday.
The CJP had announced earlier that it would start a nationwide protest from Shivaji Park against the ECI and Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls; they were asking for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
The formal communication issued by Shivaji Park police station said the police department is not empowered to grant permission for public gatherings at the ground under existing orders of the High Court and subsequent state government guidelines.
The communication also pointed out that while submitting the request, they didn’t bring the mandatory permission letter from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the ground's usage. It also highlighted the intended area, that is, Shivaji Park is a designated silence zone surrounded by residential areas, raising significant concerns regarding noise pollution, it added.
Furthermore, authorities pointed out that the proposed protest was likely to cause severe traffic congestion and impede the movement of emergency vehicles to several prominent hospitals located in the vicinity.
Denying the application, Police advised the applicants to look for an alternative venue within Mumbai, and to submit an application; the competent authority will consider it in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
The mobilisation against Kumar follows an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections on several occasions over decisions and orders regarding the SIR.
The Election Commission, however, has said that differing views and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and asserted its orders have full legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
(With agency inputs from PTI)
