Agartala: Former chief minister of Tripura and veteran CPM functionary Manik Sarkar has called for a nationwide democratic movement against the BJP-led govt, alleging that its policies favour major corporations at the expense of common citizens.Speaking at a rally in Agartala, Sarkar said a broader democratic movement was needed to protect people’s rights and livelihoods.He criticised the Election Commission’s actions, stating that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, directed by chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, has led to the deletion of voters’ names. He said the revision process, which began in Bihar, had triggered protests in multiple states, including Assam, Haryana and West Bengal. He alleged that nearly 13.40 crore names had been deleted from electoral rolls in the name of revision.Sarkar also criticised the changes made by the Centre to the process of appointing election commissioners, alleging that these changes have increased govt control over the selection process and raised concerns about the Election Commission’s independence.The former CM said safeguarding democratic and voting rights requires continuous collective efforts, warning that merely expressing demands would not be enough to achieve them; organised movements are essential for protecting the populace’s rights.He accused the govt of favouring large corporations and landowners over the working class and economically vulnerable groups. He called for unity among the poor, lower-middle-class, middle-class and working-class to build a broad democratic movement.Sarkar said divisions based on religion, caste and community were hindering the attempt to create a cohesive movement, and added that a large section of society had yet to be fully involved in the ongoing struggles.He called for a renewed movement against BJP not just in Tripura but across the country, saying the challenges experienced in Tripura could inspire similar initiatives in other areas, while movements in other states could strengthen the cause in Tripura.
