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 eroded in the country.
Congress leaders and workers, dressed in black and wearing black badges, took out protest marches in Agartala and several other districts as part of the programme.
The protesters said the agitation was aimed at raising concerns over democratic freedoms and expressing solidarity with opposition leaders who, according to the party, 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 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 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as 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 democratic protests were being obstructed.
He said the demand for Kumar's resignation had emerged as a key issue for the party and described the campaign as an effort to protect democratic institutions.
Explaining the black dress code, Saha said the Congress considered the present situation a "dark chapter" in the country's democratic history. He alleged that police intervention was being used to discourage peaceful demonstrations.
"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 programmes were organised across all districts of Tripura, with party workers participating in marches and demonstrations.
Congress leaders also appealed to people to join what they described as a wider movement for the protection 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.
The Tripura Congress indicated that the agitation would continue and could be expanded as part of a nationwide campaign.
