Why CJP Chose Mumbai for ‘Save Democracy’ Protest
The ‘Save Democracy’ agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner was mostly visible in Delhi and Mumbai and has been peaceful.
In Delhi, prohibitory orders were imposed, and additional security personnel were deployed to prevent any unauthorised gathering at the site, and more than 700 people were detained, including AAP leaders and members of student organisations at Jantar Mantar and other nearby areas like Ashoka Road.
On the other hand, the protest speeches at Shivaji Park in Mumbai began around 5.30 pm. Due to hot, sunny, and humid weather, people started reaching the protest site only from around 4.30 pm.
Though no permission was granted for holding the meetings, the police which had made heavy bandobust arrangements did not resort to preventive arrests and people holding tricolor flags of different ages, from youth to middle-aged people, were seen at the Shivaji Park area. The CJP protestors were wearing white T-shirts with the picture of Mahatma Gandhi.
Interestingly, the CJP on X asked the protestors not to worry if the police detain anyone illegally. They asked the protestors to contact the lawyers who were listed for help.
“Hello Cockroaches, Mumbai’s legal team is fully prepared. If you are illegally detained during the protest today, please contact the contacts listed here. We thank you all for your legal assistance,” the CJP said.
The party has said its latest protest follows what it describes as the success of its earlier movement against the NEET paper leak. The CJP said it would not stop here and would expand its protests beyond Mumbai.
But why did CJP choose Mumbai as the main venue for protests this time? At a press conference, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke said, “In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won only nine seats out of 48 seats. In the Assembly elections held six months later, the scenario changed altogether. How did this change happen?” he said, according to an Indian Express report. “It is in this context that we have chosen to start the agitation from Mumbai,” he added.
He further said, “We are fighting against those in power…We all remember Mahatma Gandhi, who fought against the Britishers. Did the British ever permit him to agitate?”
“Mumbai has a historic past and a strong connection with Mahatma Gandhi. It was here in Mumbai (then Bombay) that Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement on August 9, 1942, at Gawalia Tank, now called August Kranti Maidan,” he added.
Meanwhile in Delhi Police stopped AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at North Avenue from proceeding towards the protest site. AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Atishi were among those detained, police said.
Several protesters were seen attempting to cross barricades at Firoz Shah Road as police tried to stop them from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar, but police took them into custody. The police were also seen making repeated public announcements asking people not to gather at the protest site.
However, the Congress party was not seen in these protests either in Delhi or in Mumbai.