Actor and activist Prakash Raj has channeled his famous movie antagonist persona to react against the cancellation of nearly two dozen trains connecting Uttar Pradesh to New Delhi, alongside the detention of activists ahead of a scheduled protest. The demonstration, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, has drawn widespread attention as citizens push for the removal of the chief election commissioner over alleged election malpractices.
The Delhi Police stated they denied permission for the proposed gathering due to short notice, previous undertakings violations, and non-compliance with lawful directions during past events at the site. In response to the growing restrictions, authorities have significantly beefed up security arrangements across central Delhi.
Taking to social media, Prakash Raj shared a video addressing the situation, invoking a dialogue from his hit film Singham where he portrayed the villain Jaykant Shikre. He questioned why authorities were attempting to strip citizens of their right to vote and protest through train cancellations, house arrests, and detentions en route to the capital.
Activists and students attempting to travel to New Delhi for the October 10 demonstration have reported mounting harassment. Groups from Pune affiliated with the All India Students Federation alleged that railway police tried to illegally detain them at transit points in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Prakash Raj recently participated alongside CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke in a related people's tribunal protest held in Bengaluru against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.