‘Fight won’t be easy’: CJP warns of prolonged agitation ahead of Oct 10 protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

NEW DELHI: 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 would continue until the electoral system was overhauled.At a joint press conference, 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, news agency PTI reported.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, All India Students' Association (AISA), All India Students' Federation (AISF) and 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 be prepared for a prolonged agitation, PTI reported."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.Das said protesters would not back down even if Kumar resigned, as the electoral system needed cleaning up. He alleged that the BJP's pushback reflected 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 was no division between the student-led mobilisation and the opposition parties' protests.She said common people, civil society, opposition parties and student organisations stood on one side and the EC and the BJP on the other, PTI reported."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 had 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 would 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.The projection of unity comes days after online sparring between the CJP and sections aligned with the Congress.Das said the participants were united regardless of political affiliations and ideologies in a larger fight to change a "broken system", PTI reported.Asked whether the organisers would obtain permission for the protest, Das said they had 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 was 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".(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.