CJP stages Shivaji Park protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

CJP began its protest in Mumbai on Friday, October 2, demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. The protest is being held near Gate No. 6 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park at Dadar.

CJP president Abhijit Dipke addressed the gathering. He said fighting for one's rights is the true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He charged that these "Sanghi" people had troubled them more than the British ever troubled Gandhi. "But Gandhi can never die. Gandhi is the soul of this country," Dipke said.

According to Dipke, thousands of people like Godse will come and go, but people like Godse are cowards. Saying the country follows Gandhi's thinking, he told those who follow Godse's ideology that nobody can finish off Gandhi. "One great man calls himself non-biological. We know you are not human," he said. He added that such a person did not even deserve to be compared with Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar.

Dipke said that if Gandhi is the soul of the country, Ambedkar is the backbone of India and Jawaharlal Nehru is its mind. He said one cannot become greater than them by winning elections. Gandhi, Nehru and Ambedkar became great through sacrifice for the country and through agitations, he said. These leaders gave rights to people who did not even know their rights, but today's government has begun snatching citizens' rights, he alleged. "How much more will you loot the country?" he asked. He also criticised the government for making citizens stand in queues on the streets during demonetisation and the Covid period.

Speaking about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Dipke said Fadnavis had stated that those who go out to protest would have to spend three days in jail. Saying that Fadnavis is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and that the state has a tradition, he said: "Fadnavis saheb, do not forget the legacy of this Maharashtra. You may have forgotten it, we have not." He challenged the state government: "Fadnavis saheb, you wanted to put us in jail, so do it now."

Dipke said that in this country the people choose the government, but according to this "non-biological great man", the government will decide who its voters will be and who will not. "Had an earlier government done this, you would still be selling tea at a tea stall," he said.