‘Let them go to Pakistan’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke says Hindu-Muslim politics won’t work in Maharashtra

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday said “divisive” Hindu-Muslim politics would not work in Maharashtra, urging people from both communities to remain united.

“This country will only move ahead if Hindus and Muslims stay together, and whoever wants to do such politics, let them go to Pakistan and do such politics,” Dipke said while addressing a gathering at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.

Dipke was speaking at a CJP protest seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The event was held despite police denying permission, with thousands of people gathering at the iconic ground amid heavy security.


The party said more than 10,000 people attended the demonstration, which was organised as part of its campaign against what it describes as irregularities in electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Also Read: Fresh protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if CEC Gyanesh Kumar does not resign: CJP leader Dipke

‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign

Dipke warned that the protest movement would be taken to Delhi if Kumar did not resign.

“If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10,” he said in a post on X, adding that the proposed agitation would be peaceful and calling on citizens seeking free and fair elections to join it.

Earlier at Shivaji Park, Dipke had called for “Jantar Mantar 2.0” if Kumar did not step down and gave a “Chalo Delhi” call.

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde demanded Kumar's resignation and criminal proceedings against him. He also called for the freezing of the 2025 voter lists and the repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.

CJP alleges electoral-roll irregularities

Dipke alleged that irregularities in electoral rolls had helped the BJP win elections and claimed that 13 crore voters had been deleted over two years. He also alleged that 40 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra's electoral rolls ahead of the 2024 assembly elections.

The CJP founder also alleged voter deletions in constituencies associated with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. These claims were made at the protest and have not been independently established.

Also Read: ‘Shivaji Park, Shivaji Park’: Abhijeet Dipke takes auto-driver disguise to drum up CJP protest

Referring to the BJP's argument that opposition parties have also won elections in states such as Telangana, Karnataka and Jharkhand, Dipke said, “when the match is fixed, not all balls are no-balls and not all catches are dropped.”

He also accused the BJP of seeking to weaken regional parties and described the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as a “shell company”.

The CJP chose Maharashtra as the starting point for its campaign against Kumar because, Dipke said, the alleged electoral irregularities began in the state.

Shivaji Park turns into a sea of slogans and placards

The protest drew a sizeable presence of young people despite the police denial and heavy security deployment around Shivaji Park and up to Dadar station. Protesters waved tricolours and carried placards with messages including “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN” and “Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go”.

Several groups, including the Student Federation of India (SFI) and Left-affiliated organisations, participated in the demonstration. Groups affiliated with the All India Students' Federation (AISF) from Pune played musical instruments at the venue.

The protest, held on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, featured quotations on non-violence and simplicity as well as tributes to BR Ambedkar. The title song from “Rang De Basanti” and AR Rahman's “Vande Mataram” were also played.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) extended support to the agitation. Its local MLA Mahesh Sawant said party leader Aaditya Thackeray could not attend because he was unwell.

Celebrities, activists join CJP protest

Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, singer and music director Vishal Dadlani, and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, were among those present.

CJP leader Saurav Das also criticised the Delhi Police over the detention of protesters at Jantar Mantar.

“Delhi Police has again resorted to brutality. We warn Delhi Police to improve or we will improve you,” Das said.

The CJP's campaign against the Election Commission comes amid its broader demand for changes to electoral-roll processes and the functioning of the poll panel.

A student protester, Aayan Patel, said, “Voting is everyone's right. If that right is not protected, the future of the next generation will be difficult."

Anuja, a teenage speaker at the protest, also criticised the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the stage.