MUMBAI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday said Hindu-Muslim “divisive” politics would not work in Maharashtra, calling for Hindus and Muslims to stay together.“This country will only move ahead if Hindus and Muslims stay together, and whoever wants to do such politics, let them go to Pakistan and do such politics,” Dipke said while addressing a large gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

His remarks came as the CJP held a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Despite police denying permission for the event, thousands of protesters gathered at the iconic ground on Gandhi Jayanti, with heavy security deployed around the area.Also read: 'Did we ask you to sell tea?': CJP's Abhijeet Dipke targets PM Modi at Mumbai's Shivaji ParkMore than 10,000 people turned up at the demonstration.The protest was part of the CJP's campaign against what the party describes as irregularities in electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.Dipke also announced that the movement would be taken to Delhi if Kumar did not resign.

“If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10," he said in a post on X, adding that it will be a peaceful agitation and every citizen who wants free and fair elections must join it.Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, singer-music director Vishal Dadlani and Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, were among those present at the protest.