Mumbai: Ahead of the proposed Mumbai agitation, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) chief Abhijit Deepke on Thursday cautioned Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis against repeating what he described as a mistake made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 20.

“Do not make the mistake that Amit Shah made on July 20. If you want to arrest us, do it now,” Deepke said, while challenging the state government over the possibility of arrests during the protest.

The CJP has announced that its agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will begin from Friday and will subsequently be taken across the country. Deepke said the protesters would eventually sit at Jantar Mantar and continue the agitation until Kumar resigns.

Deepke demanded that the 2025 Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list be frozen and called for greater transparency in the electoral process. He also demanded that elections be conducted on the basis of the 2005 voter list.

Questioning restrictions on protests at Shivaji Park, Deepke said, “If Devendra Fadnavis can hold a rally at Shivaji Park, why can’t we protest there? If votes can be sought from Shivaji Park, why can’t we stage a protest there?”

He also rejected the argument that protests required prior permission. “We will protest whether permission is granted or not. We are protesting democratically against those in power,” he said.

Taking a swipe at Fadnavis’ remarks about protesters being released on bail after three days in jail, Deepke said he was prepared to remain behind bars for longer. “Keep me in jail for three months instead of three days. I will return to the streets again and again,” he said.

Deepke further claimed that a large number of voters whose names had allegedly been deleted from electoral rolls would eventually take to the streets. He said the issue would grow into a nationwide campaign demanding accountability from those responsible for the electoral process.

CJP to back October 4 protest

Deepke also announced that the CJP would support the October 4 protest in Mumbai. He said several people and groups were expected to back the agitation and claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had also extended his support.

“I will be travelling across the country and may not be in Mumbai on October 4, but our people will gather there,” Deepke said, adding that the mobilisation would go beyond political party lines.