Several names from the entertainment industry joined the CJP protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday, October 2. Veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, singer-composer Vishal Dadlani, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj and actor Atul Kulkarni were among those linked to the demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What the protest is about
The protest was led by Abhijeet Dipke. It demands Kumar’s resignation and a stop to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the venue.
Shabana Azmi’s appeal and speech
According to the Business Today report, before the event, Shabana Azmi publicly backed the protest and urged people to take part. In a video on social media, she called voting a fundamental right and asked what happens when a citizen’s name is missing from the voter list.At the protest, she spoke about the constitutional right of citizens to raise their voice against alleged wrongdoing. She thanked the participants for recognising their collective strength and standing up for what they believed was right.
Vishal Dadlani at Shivaji Park
Vishal Dadlani had announced his support earlier and asked people to join in. At the venue, he raised slogans and said he was happy to be at the Mumbai protest.
Naseeruddin Shah meets Abhijeet Dipke
Naseeruddin Shah also extended his support to Abhijeet Dipke. A video shared by the latter showed Shah meeting and hugging him at the gathering. The veteran actor said he had come to meet Abhijeet, and he appreciated his work.
Javed Akhtar on residents’ objections
Writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar commented on the row over the protest venue in a post on X. Some Shivaji Park residents had objected to the demonstration, citing noise and disruption.Akhtar said he welcomed residents raising the issue. He asked whether they would voice the same objections with equal strength when political parties hold public gatherings at Shivaji Park.
