Cinema VinesVeteran actress Shabana Azmi took to the stage at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday, October 2, to rally the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Jail Bharo Andolan” protest. The gathering was organised in response to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which the CJP claims has led to the wrongful removal of voters’ names. The party has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign, arguing that the SIR exercise threatens the integrity of the democratic process.
Azmi, who is a native of Mumbai, opened the event by stressing the importance of voting rights. She said, “Voting is our right. If anyone tries to take away our right to vote, we will do what is necessary through democratic means.” She urged citizens to voice their concerns when their names disappear from the rolls, adding that “our vote is our voice” and that the people must not tolerate any infringement on their constitutional rights.
The protest attracted a host of other film and music personalities, including Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Dadlani, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj and singer Rekha Bhardwaj. Shah met CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke during the event, and the two embraced in a video that was shared by Dipke. Shah expressed his gratitude to Dipke, saying, “I want to thank you,” and praised the founder’s work, calling him a “huge fan” of the veteran actor.
Despite Mumbai Police refusing to grant permission for the demonstration, the CJP went ahead with the rally. Heavy police deployment and barricades surrounded Shivaji Park as thousands of supporters gathered. Police estimates later placed the crowd size in the thousands, although the organisers reported a larger turnout. The event also received a video message of support from actor Prakash Raj, who expressed solidarity with the protestors.
As the protest unfolded, Azmi highlighted the need for democratic action against any attempt to erode voting rights. She concluded, “Today, look around and see how far your eyes can reach, this is the victory of democracy. Because we have recognised our own strength, and we have realised that we do not have to tolerate anything wrong.” The CJP’s Mumbai gathering underscores the growing concern among civil society groups about the impact of the SIR exercise on the electoral process.
