Police deny permission for CJP's 'Jail Bharo' protest at Shivaji Park, party says it will go ahead
Mumbai Police refused permission citing a 2013 High Court silence-zone order, but the Cockroach Janta Party says it will hold its protest today regardless.
The 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) has announced a "Jail Bharo" (fill the jails) agitation at Mumbai's historic Shivaji Park from today, October 2. Mumbai Police have refused permission for the protest. The CJP has said it will go ahead regardless, and heavy police deployment has been made in the Shivaji Park area.
Police have given their reasons for refusing permission. According to them, the area is a silence zone under a 2013 High Court order. They also cited security concerns and the risk of traffic jams and noise pollution.
Police also said Shivaji Park was declared a silence zone under the 2013 order of the Bombay High Court. Dadar and Shivaji Park form the central part of the city, so police fear the protest could cause heavy traffic jams and that noise could cause needless trouble to local residents.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke refused to accept the police decision. He said the protest would be held at the scheduled time. Dipke warned, "Our voice cannot be suppressed by court orders or police force." He also said that if police stopped them, all workers and office-bearers would carry out the Jail Bharo protest in the Shivaji Park area itself.
Meanwhile, to prevent any untoward incident, Mumbai Police have put strict barricades on all gates of the Shivaji Park ground and on the main roads. Additional police contingents have also been deployed to stop protesters from entering the ground.
In instructions issued by the police, it is stated: "Shivaji Park is a silence zone as per the court order. If a law and order problem is created without permission, legal action will be taken against the protesters."
Amid the dispute, the Vasai Lawyers Association has announced legal support for the protesters. The association said that if cases are registered against workers, it will take up their defence in court free of charge. Following the announcement, the political and social atmosphere in Mumbai and Vasai has heated up considerably.
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