New Delhi, Oct. 7 -- The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student organisations on Wednesday called for a united mobilisation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar ahead of their October 10 protest, saying the agitation will continue until the electoral system is overhauled. At a joint press conference here, the groups sought to put their campaign against the Election Commission (EC) on a broader political footing, backing the opposition INDIA bloc MPs' October 6 protest march and describing the confrontation as one between people defending democracy and the BJP. In July, a CJP-led agitation over the NEET paper leak had forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign as Union education minister. The group is now seeking to sustain street pressure against Kumar as protests against the EC intensify ahead of October 10.
Wednesday's press conference brought together the CJP, the All India Students' Association (AISA), the All India Students' Federation (AISF) and the Students' Federation of India (SFI). The Aam Aadmi Party's student wing, Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), also participated. CJP co-convener Saurav Das urged people across the country to travel to Delhi and to come prepared for a prolonged agitation. "This fight is not going to be easy. I appeal to everyone across the country to join us, book train and flight tickets," he said. Even if Kumar resigns, the protesters will not step back because the electoral system needs to be cleaned up, Das said, alleging that the BJP's pushback reflects a "lust for eternal power".
The demands outlined by Das include Kumar's resignation and initiation of criminal proceedings against him; freezing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, halting upcoming elections, restoring the January 2025 voters' list and ordering an independent inquiry; and repealing the 2023 law governing appointments to the EC to establish an independent and credible selection process. AISA president Neha Bora said there is no division between the students-led mobilisation and the opposition parties' protests. Common people, civil society, opposition parties and student organisations stand on one side and the EC and the BJP on the other, she said. "There are no divisions. We, the people of India, versus the BJP. If we lead this fight unitedly, we will do it effectively," Bora said.
Backing the INDIA bloc MPs who tried to march towards the EC office on Tuesday demanding Kumar's resignation, she said elected representatives have a duty to take to the streets to raise people's issues and defend their rights. "That's what the MPs of the INDIA bloc did," she said, adding that the CJP and student organisations of opposition parties will lend strength to the October 10 protest. "If ever there was a time to desert the BJP, it is now," Bora said, urging those in the BJP camp to join people seeking to defend democracy and the Constitution.
This projection of unity comes days after online sparring between the CJP and sections aligned with the Congress. Das said the participants are united regardless of political affiliations and ideologies in a larger fight to change a "broken system". Asked whether the organisers will obtain permission for the protest, Das said they submitted a formal intimation at the Parliament Street police station on Wednesday and provided undertakings.
"Please don't use the word permission. Who is Delhi Police to give us permission?" he said, adding that intimation is sufficient. "We will cooperate with Delhi Police and we hope Delhi Police will cooperate with us," he added. SFI's Adarsh Shaji accused Kumar of undermining Indian democracy, describing the confrontation as a fight between "democracy and autocracy".
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.