Agartala, Oct 8: The Tripura Pradesh Congress on Thursday observed a statewide ‘Black Day’, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleging that democratic rights were being curtailed in the country.
Congress leaders and workers, dressed in black and wearing black badges, organised protest marches in Agartala and other districts as part of the programme.
The party said the agitation was aimed at highlighting concerns over democratic freedoms and expressing solidarity with opposition leaders who, according to Congress, faced police action during a demonstration in New Delhi a day earlier.
Tripura Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and several other senior party leaders participated in the protest in the state capital.
Addressing the gathering, Saha criticised what he described as police action against senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, besides MPs and other leaders of the INDIA bloc during the Delhi protest.
Saha alleged that the developments in the national capital had prompted Congress workers across the country to intensify their campaign, claiming that opposition voices and peaceful demonstrations were being obstructed.
He said the demand for Kumar’s resignation had become a key issue for the party and described the campaign as an effort to safeguard democratic institutions.
Explaining the black dress code, Saha said the Congress viewed the prevailing situation as a “dark chapter” in the country’s democratic history. He alleged that police intervention was being used to discourage and restrict peaceful protests.
“This is a democratic nation, and citizens must be allowed to express their views through peaceful protest. Preventing people from taking to the streets and curbing dissent is not healthy for democracy,” Saha said.
The state Congress president claimed that similar demonstrations and protest marches were organised across all districts of Tripura, with party workers participating in the programmes.
Congress leaders also appealed to people to join what they described as a wider movement for the protection and restoration of democratic values.
The party said INDIA bloc MPs would approach the Election Commission with a set of demands and concerns in the coming days.
Tripura Pradesh Congress leaders indicated that the agitation would continue and could be expanded as part of a nationwide campaign.
The Thursday protests were intended, according to the party, to register opposition to what it described as growing restrictions on democratic expression and political dissent.
