Agartala, July 29 — Tripura Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha on Monday strongly opposed the proposed implementation of the Selective Identification Registry (SIR) by the Election Commission of India, calling it a threat to constitutional rights and democratic values.
Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Bhavan, Saha described the SIR initiative as part of a “disturbing trend” sweeping across the country. He alleged that the Election Commission is defying Supreme Court directives by undermining the validity of constitutionally accepted identification documents issued by the Government of India.
Saha claimed that the SIR is being misused to selectively eliminate legitimate voter names from electoral rolls to benefit a particular political party. “It is unconstitutional and undemocratic,” he stated, warning that after Assam, Tripura could be the next target.
He also criticized local political forces, particularly Tipra Motha, for backing the proposal, claiming it would disenfranchise large sections of the population. “Many economically backward citizens may be unable to provide birth certificates or other documents, putting their citizenship and voting rights at risk,” Saha said.
Emphasizing that no constitutional body has the authority to reject valid identity documents, Saha accused the Election Commission of enabling voter manipulation over the past seven years. “The people of Tripura are waking up to these tactics,” he asserted.
The Congress leader warned that any attempt to enforce SIR in Tripura would be met with fierce resistance. “Congress will not cooperate and will launch a mass protest. We will hit the streets with the people by our side,” he declared.
Saha’s remarks have intensified the political discourse in Tripura, as concerns mount over the potential implications of SIR on voter inclusion and democratic participation.
