Mumbai, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on Friday criticised the protest being held by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a “grammar of anarchy”.
Speaking to reporters, Shelar said the Election Commission had announced the SIR process transparently, with a defined schedule and procedures for applications, claims, objections and hearings.
He said political parties and citizens had been informed about the process and argued that objections could be raised through constitutional and legal mechanisms, including before the Election Commission and through judicial avenues.
“If there are objections to any part of the process, they can be raised through constitutional and legal channels,” Shelar said.
The minister claimed that safeguards had been incorporated into the SIR process to ensure that eligible voters were not removed from electoral rolls without an opportunity to present their case.
Shelar also criticised the Congress and other Opposition parties for repeatedly questioning the BJP and the government over the electoral-roll revision. He stressed that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional institution and said concerns about its functioning should be raised through institutional mechanisms.
Invoking B.R. Ambedkar’s November 25, 1949, Constituent Assembly speech, Shelar said Ambedkar had warned against resorting to unconstitutional methods when constitutional avenues were available.
He acknowledged that the right to protest was an integral part of democracy but argued that protests should not be used to create distrust in constitutional institutions.
Shelar further alleged that the CJP protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park was politically motivated and aimed at advancing the party’s agenda.
“The agitation-driven CJP can never deliver justice to the people,” he said.
He also claimed that India’s electoral process had received international appreciation, including from the US President and representatives of 22 countries, and alleged that the Opposition sought to discredit the country when the BJP won elections.
The SIR process and the role of the Election Commission have been the subject of political debate, with Opposition parties raising concerns over electoral-roll revisions and demanding greater scrutiny of the exercise.
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