Agartala, Jul 2 (PTI): Veteran CPI (M) leader and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Thursday alleged that the BJP was trying to prepare electoral rolls of its choice by using Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list to remain in power indefinitely.
Addressing a programme at Chailengta in Dhalai district, he alleged that the BJP’s prime target is to disenfranchise Muslims, labourers and poor by using SIR.
“This has been proven in Bihar, West Bengal and Assam too. They want to delete those valid voters whom they doubt will vote against the saffron party. Their prime target is to disenfranchise Muslim, labourers and poor by using SIR as a tool,” he said.
Claiming that the BJP wants to install fascist rule in the country, the former chief minister said they want to seize the voting rights of the people who are on their doubtful list.
“In Tripura too, they are hatching a conspiracy to disenfranchise valid electors who are on their doubtful list. If voting rights are seized, democracy will fall in the country, which is what the BJP is planning,” he said.
Sarkar also claimed the BJP would have faced defeat in Tripura in the 2023 Assembly elections had the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) not secretly supported the saffron party.
“The people, frustrated by the saffron party’s misrule, were determined to vote in the 2023 Assembly election, but it was not possible because of Tipra Motha’s clandestine understanding with the BJP,” he said.
The CPI(M) politburo member also lashed out at the RSS and VHP for trying to engineer division between Hindus and Muslims after the BJP came to power in the bordering state in 2018.
Sarkar called upon the people to take the path of protest and agitation to resist the BJP from taking anti-people policies, as the state has been struggling on various fronts from job to law and order and corruption.
