Mumbai, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, but said he was not aware of the details of the issue and had attended the gathering simply to extend his support.
Bhardwaj, known for films including Haider, told reporters that participation in such a protest was a personal choice and that members of the film industry could decide individually whether they wanted to speak out.
“I don’t know whether anything has happened to anyone. I have come here only to extend my support,” Bhardwaj said. “Whether Bollywood should also support this issue is an individual and personal matter.”
He added that while he was part of Bollywood, others might expect prominent stars to participate, but ultimately each individual had to decide whether they considered the developments wrong and wanted to support the protest.
Bhardwaj was among several prominent film and music personalities who attended the CJP demonstration at Shivaji Park on October 2. Actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah and singer-composer Vishal Dadlani were also present at the protest.
The demonstration, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, sought the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and opposed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Organisers have raised concerns about the revision process and electoral rights, while the Election Commission has maintained that the exercise is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible voters from electoral rolls.
Azmi also addressed the gathering, speaking about the right to vote and the need for people to protest through democratic means if their names are removed from electoral rolls.
The Mumbai protest was part of the CJP’s wider campaign over electoral-roll revision and the functioning of the Election Commission. Thousands of people gathered at Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the event.
FOLLOW NOW
