Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and singer Vishal Dadlani joined a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest focused on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission and government have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke led the demonstration after Mumbai Police denied permission for the gathering. The group had announced a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ if the protest was prevented.
Dadlani, who had earlier backed the demonstration on social media, joined protesters in chanting ‘Go Gyan Go’ and said the movement would continue until Kumar resigns.
Shabana also spoke about voting rights, saying a vote represents a citizen’s voice and questioning how those rights are protected if names disappear from electoral rolls.
Filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, along with Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, also attended the protest.
