Javed Akhtar's jibe at CJP protest critics: ‘Same intensity’ for political jalsas?
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
Lyricist Javed Akhtar on Friday questioned whether residents of Mumbai's Shivaji Park who objected to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest over noise pollution would raise similar objections when a political party holds a jalsa at the venue.
Adding to this, Supporters of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) attend a protest demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in Mumbai, India, October 2, 2026. (REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh) Akhtar welcomed the residents’ concerns and their demand that authorities cancel the CJP protest, but suggested that the objections should be applied consistently to political gatherings as well.
Meanwhile, “I am so happy that some residences of Shivaji park are getting sensitive about the noise pollution and asking the authorities to cancel the protest of CJP today at Shivaji park. I am hundred percent sure that they will raise the same objection with the same intensity if not more when ever there is any jalsa of any political party of Maharashtra is planned at Shivaji park,” he shared in a post on X.
Notably, Dipke had revealed the Mumbai protest as the first leg of a nationwide agitation, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and demanding greater accountability in the functioning of the Election Commission.
As per the latest buzz, The protest comes days after Mumbai Police denied permission for the gathering at Shivaji Park, citing, among other issues, concerns over noise pollution, traffic congestion and disruption to movement in the area. Dipke subsequently revealed the ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ at the venue.
In further updates, More than 500 protesters have as per reports been detained in Delhi, including AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjay Singh. Several attempts have also been made to detain All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora.
On top of that, An Indian Express report alleged that Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections to several decisions of the poll panel over a 10-month period, including matters relating to electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The reported objections included concerns over changes to Form 6, the centralisation of access to the electoral-roll database and decisions concerning voter additions, deletions and restoration.
The report triggered a political row, with opposition parties calling for Kumar’s resignation and seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention, while raising questions about the functioning of the poll panel.
Source: Hindustan Times