'Fake Narrative Busted': Fadnavis Defends Election Commission
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis slams attempts to target the Election Commission after protests erupted at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has strongly countered attempts to undermine the integrity of the Election Commission, asserting that the "fake narrative" being circulated has already been exposed. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Friday, Fadnavis stated that recent clarifications provided by the commission have effectively dismantled the allegations being leveled against it.
Protests Erupt at Shivaji Park
The Chief Minister's remarks came amidst significant unrest at Shivaji Park, where activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and various civil society organisations gathered to protest. The demonstrators were targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Fadnavis addressed the growing tension by highlighting a recent press conference held by three Election Commissioners. "The entire matter has been exposed. Following the press conference held by the three Election Commissioners, their fake narrative has been busted," he said. He added a stern warning to those continuing the campaign, stating, "Yet, attempts are still being made to push this fake narrative. They will not succeed in this."
Heated Allegations from CJP
The protest took an aggressive turn as CJP spokesperson Saurav Das directed scathing criticism toward Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Das labeled the Commissioner a "traitor" and claimed that the movement for his removal would gain nationwide momentum.
"As you can see, we are starting from Mumbai today. This is going to be a very big protest," Das claimed, drawing parallels to previous youth-led demonstrations. He urged the citizens of Mumbai to join the cause, suggesting that the spirit of the city would drive the movement for the Commissioner's resignation.
Local Residents Voice Frustration
While the political tension escalated, the protest caused significant friction with the local community. Residents living near Shivaji Park expressed deep dissatisfaction with the frequent use of the public space for large-scale demonstrations.
Sunil Bhagwat, a local resident, questioned the responsibility of organizers toward the general public. "We come here for walks in this park, but many protests have been happening here recently. Who is responsible for the troubles being caused to the common people?" he asked, citing the disruption of daily routines.
Other residents raised concerns regarding public safety and infrastructure. Ravindra, another local, pointed to past incidents of chaos, alleging that previous gatherings had led to:
- Massive traffic congestion reaching as far as the Dadar Shivaji Park station.
- Reports of bottles being thrown during previous demonstrations.
- Disruption to the functioning of nearby schools and hospitals.
Due to the scale of the protest and the potential for unrest, a heavy police deployment was observed throughout the Shivaji Park area to maintain order.