SIR row: CJP threatens protests if CEC Gyanesh Kumar does not resign in 48 hours

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday stepped up his attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation within 48 hours and warning of a nationwide agitation, including a "Jantar Mantar 2.0", if he does not step down.

Addressing a press conference, Dipke accused Kumar of "undermining" voter rights and alleged that the electoral process had been "rigged", claiming that citizens were being deprived of their right to vote.

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"If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, we will start a nationwide protest, before coming for a protest in Delhi," Dipke said, adding that if the CEC doesn't resign, "Jantar Mantar 2.0 will definitely happen".

Dipke also argued that Opposition parties should reconsider participating in elections if they believe the electoral process is being manipulated.

"If you know elections are being rigged, you cannot participate. You will have to take a stand," he said.

'Biggest threat to Indian democracy'

Dipke called Kumar the "biggest threat to Indian democracy" and accused the Election Commission of determining who would be allowed to vote.

"Who is Gyanesh to revoke our right to vote?" he said, while also calling for criminal proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Dipke described Kumar as the country's "biggest anti-national" and demanded his immediate resignation.

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"Chief Election Commissioner is the biggest anti-national. Gyanesh Kumar is the biggest anti-national of this country. He should resign immediately because he is the biggest threat to India's democracy. What did democracy mean in our country? Democracy meant that the people would elect the government. Since Gyanesh Kumar became the Chief Election Commissioner, the government has been deciding who will be allowed to vote and who will not. Is this democracy? What kind of definition of democracy is this? You have turned the entire concept of democracy upside down," Dipke said.

Dipke's attack comes amid wider EC row

The remarks come amid a widening controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly raised objections within the three-member Election Commission.

According to the report, Sandhu and Joshi formally objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders that they said had been issued without their knowledge. On one occasion, the two commissioners reportedly raised objections four times in a single day.

The national rollout of the SIR has been under the supervision of all three election commissioners.

The controversy has also drawn criticism from several Opposition leaders, who have questioned the Election Commission's internal decision-making and its handling of electoral rolls.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have accused the poll panel of facilitating alleged electoral manipulation, while Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has called for Kumar's resignation and demanded a fresh electoral-roll revision.

Priyanka Gandhi has said those responsible should face action if allegations of election manipulation are established, while Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission, BJP and RSS of committing an "act of treason".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also demanded action against Kumar, while AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has sought cancellation of the SIR exercise and restoration of an earlier electoral roll.

Other Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, have also questioned the poll panel's handling of electoral rolls and sought corrective action.

The Election Commission has disputed allegations that electoral rolls or elections were manipulated.