NEW DELHI: Protests against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have been announced in Delhi and Mumbai and other cities for October 2, with parties demanding his resignation and raising issues concerning the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Here’s what is planned and where the permission situation stands:Delhi | October 2: A proposed protest against Gyanesh Kumar is scheduled at Jantar Mantar on Gandhi Jayanti. However, Delhi Police have not granted permission as of October 1, according news agency PTI. Barricades have also been placed on roads leading to the protest area.Who is backing the Delhi protest: Social activists and student groups have called the demonstration, while opposition groups are also expected to participate or hold parallel protests. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj had appealed to people to join the Jantar Mantar protest.Mumbai | October 2: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” against Kumar at Shivaji Park at 4pm, Gate No. 6.Mumbai permission status: Mumbai Police have not granted permission for the proposed Shivaji Park gathering. Police said they were not empowered to approve such a gathering there in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order and described the area as a silence zone. Organisers were advised to seek an alternative venue.CJP’s stated position: Dipke has said the protests will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns and has announced plans for demonstrations in Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. He has also warned of a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi later in October if Kumar does not step down.Opposition programme: The INDIA bloc has separately announced a nationwide campaign beginning October 2 over its demands concerning the Election Commission, including removal of the CEC and issues related to electoral rolls. Its announced programme includes district-level marches from October 2-8, a march to the ECI headquarters on October 6, a meeting with the President in the second week of October and a mega rally in Delhi on November 1.The protests come amid a wider political dispute over the Election Commission’s functioning and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has defended its procedures, while opposition parties and protest organisers have raised allegations and demands for changes.(With agency inputs)
