Protesters gathered at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Friday, October 16, 2026, under the banner of ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ to voice their opposition to the current electoral process and recent government actions. The demonstration, which saw a significant turnout, was primarily organised in solidarity with activists currently protesting in New Delhi. The primary demands presented by the participants included the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the withdrawal of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and the release of activists who have been detained by authorities.
Amol Asulkar, a coordinator for the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), stated that the event was a show of support for those protesting against what he described as authoritarian rule. During the gathering, demonstrators expressed frustration over the detention of individuals who had been waving the national flag in public spaces. Mr. Asulkar alleged that despite government campaigns promoting national pride, citizens are facing arrests for similar acts of expression.
Manan Desai, a volunteer with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), raised concerns regarding the SIR exercise, suggesting it has led to the removal of numerous names from the voters' list. He argued that access to voting is a fundamental right that cannot be compromised. Furthermore, Mr. Desai condemned the five-day judicial custody of activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were reportedly detained in New Delhi for unfurling the national flag. He also noted that he had been detained previously while attempting to assemble at August Kranti Maidan.
The protest also highlighted broader concerns about the narrowing of spaces available for public dissent. Ali Bhojani, representing the group Hum Bharat Ke Log, criticised the official designation of Azad Maidan as the sole protest site in Mumbai. He argued that the ground’s current state makes it ineffective for public outreach and urged the Bombay High Court to designate additional locations across the city where protesters can engage directly with the public and government officials.
Harshada, an associate with the organisation DISHA, detailed the ongoing ‘Bhagat Singh Janadhikar Yatra’, which involves campaigns across various states to raise awareness about the implications of the SIR exercise. She alleged that the process disproportionately affects marginalised groups, including Muslims, Adivasis, and women, and speculated that it is being used to indirectly implement features of the National Register of Citizens. The group has called for a comprehensive investigation into alleged electoral irregularities and the reinstatement of paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.
Despite the tension surrounding the protest, some participants acknowledged the role of local law enforcement. Amey Gadigaonkar, a student and supporter of the movement, remarked that while protesters in New Delhi faced alleged mistreatment, the Mumbai Police had facilitated Friday’s demonstration in an orderly fashion. The demonstrators maintained that their actions are an exercise of their basic constitutional rights and requested that the Prime Minister initiate a formal dialogue to address their grievances regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
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