Javed Akhtar Questions Whether Shivaji Park Residents Will Object to Political Rallies Too
Writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar has questioned whether residents around Mumbai's Shivaji Park in Dadar will raise similar objections to political rallies in the area after some locals opposed a planned protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), citing noise and disruption.
In a post on X on Friday, Akhtar said he welcomed residents' concerns about noise pollution and suggested that the same objections should also apply when political parties organise public gatherings at Shivaji Park. His comments came as CJP activists and other civil society groups prepared to hold a demonstration at the venue.
Residents raise objections to protest
Some Shivaji Park residents have opposed the use of the ground for the CJP demonstration, citing concerns about noise, traffic and disruption to normal life in the neighbourhood.
Resident Sunil Bhagwat told reporters that people regularly use the park for walks and that repeated protests have created difficulties for local residents. Another resident, Ravindra, referred to problems he said occurred during an earlier demonstration, including crowding and traffic disruption.
Residents also pointed to nearby schools and a hospital while explaining their concerns about large gatherings in the area. These statements represent the views of individual residents and do not necessarily represent every person living in the neighbourhood.
CJP protest focuses on Election Commission
The CJP demonstration is linked to demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the group was beginning its protest in Mumbai and appealed to people to participate.
Police deployment was increased around Shivaji Park and nearby Dadar areas in anticipation of the gathering.
The allegations made by protesters concerning the Election Commission and the SIR process are contested political claims and have not been established as facts by the reporting cited here.
Why Shivaji Park is significant
Shivaji Park has long been an important public gathering place in Mumbai and has hosted political events and rallies.The area was declared a silence zone in 2010 because of the presence of schools, hospitals and residential buildings nearby.
The Free Press Journal reported that the applicable noise limits are 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night.
The location's history as a venue for political gatherings has therefore become part of the discussion surrounding the latest protest.
Akhtar's broader question
Akhtar's comments focused on whether residents who are objecting to noise from the current protest would maintain the same position when political parties hold rallies at the same venue.His post did not endorse a particular political party.
Instead, he questioned whether the same standard concerning noise and disruption would be applied to political gatherings generally.
The issue has also generated discussion about how Mumbai balances the right to hold public demonstrations with the interests of residents, businesses, schools and hospitals located close to major protest venues.
Police security increased
Authorities increased security around Shivaji Park and Dadar ahead of the demonstration. The police presence was intended to manage the gathering and maintain public order as protesters assembled.
Separately, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised the protest and defended the Election Commission, saying the allegations being raised against the poll body had been countered by statements from the Election Commission.
The political dispute and the residents' concerns are therefore unfolding at the same time, with the protest drawing attention both to electoral issues and to the practical impact of large demonstrations on the surrounding neighbourhood.
Source attribution: This report is based on current reporting from The Times of India, India Today and Free Press Journal. Statements and allegations made by political activists, residents and public figures are attributed to their respective speakers.