Party vows jail-filling protest after Mumbai march denied permission

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleged on Tuesday that Mumbai police had refused to grant permission for a public gathering scheduled for October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Party founder Abhijit Dipke said the denial of permission had prompted the organization to escalate its response. "We will launch a jail-filling movement in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti if our request for peaceful demonstration remains unaddressed," Dipke stated, referring to the civil disobedience tactic of deliberately inviting mass arrests to challenge government decisions.

The party had sought clearance to hold a public protest in the financial capital but did not specify the nature of demonstrations or grievances being addressed. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the party's confrontation with local authorities.

Such jail-filling campaigns, historically associated with India's independence movement, involve organized mass participation in acts of civil disobedience to challenge government policy. The tactic saw renewed attention in recent years as a form of political protest against various state decisions.

Mumbai police did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the rejection of the demonstration permit or the party's counter-announcement.