The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee observed a ‘Black Day’ on Thursday, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and alleging that democratic rights were being undermined in the country.
Congress leaders and workers took out a protest march in Agartala, dressed in black and wearing black badges. The programme was led by Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashish Kumar Saha and senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman. A large number of party workers and leaders also participated in the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering, Roy Barman alleged that the protest was organised in response to the police action against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge and other INDIA bloc MPs and senior leaders during a demonstration on Wednesday.
“We have taken to the streets today against the inhuman atrocities and police brutality that we witnessed yesterday, including the harassment of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Kharge and INDIA bloc MPs and senior leaders. This movement is to save democracy and demand the immediate resignation of Gyanesh Kumar,” Roy Barman said.
Raising the slogan, “Gyanesh has to go,” the Congress leader said the party had resolved to continue its movement to “restore democracy” in the country.
Roy Barman claimed that similar protest programmes were organised across Tripura, with Congress workers holding marches and demonstrations in various districts under the direction of the Pradesh Congress Committee.
Explaining the decision to observe the day as a ‘Black Day’, Roy Barman alleged that the democratic right to protest was being curtailed and that police forces were being used to prevent people from exercising their rights.
“This is a democratic country. We will not be allowed to protest, we will not be allowed to take to the streets, and the police will be used against us—this is how the country cannot run,” he said.
The Congress leader also appealed to people to join the party’s movement to protect democratic rights. He said INDIA bloc MPs would approach the Election Commission with a series of demands.
The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee said a delegation would be sent to the Election Commission to formally submit the party’s demands. Congress leaders further indicated that the agitation would be expanded and intensified across the country in the coming days.
