New Delhi, October 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Opposition leaders on Saturday defended the right to peaceful protest as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against the Election Commission of India (ECI), with concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process taking centre stage.
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra Mona said the Constitution guarantees political parties and organisations the right to protest peacefully and question government policies.
“Our Constitution gives every political party and organisation the right to protest peacefully. It is the moral responsibility of political parties and organisations to voice their opinions and hold the government accountable for its wrong policies,” she said.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma claimed the CJP’s protest call had attracted interest from people across the country, alleging that electoral malpractice had taken place.
“People from across the country, not just North India but also South, East and West India, want to join the Cockroach Janata Party’s call,” Verma said. He alleged that the Election Commission had been involved in electoral malpractice, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar being used as a “front”.
Telangana Jana Samithi chief and MLC M. Kodandaram criticised the reported security arrangements and suspension of internet services around the planned demonstration. He said the measures were preventing people from reaching Jantar Mantar and described them as a “very big mistake”.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai also questioned the restrictions, linking the protest to alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
“These actions are wrong. People are protesting because of irregularities in the SIR process, which has deprived 13 crore people of their right to participate in elections. This is completely wrong,” Dalwai said.
The leaders’ statements came amid the CJP’s demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and renewed opposition criticism of the electoral revision exercise. Their remarks highlighted the dispute over the SIR process and the scope for peaceful dissent, while the allegations against the Election Commission remained claims made by the leaders.
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