The ruling BJP government is undermining the constitutional and democratic institutions of India, including the Election Commission of India and the independent judiciary system, alleged veteran CPIM Politburo member and ex Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Sarkar.
Addressing the state conference of the All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) at Agartala Town Hall on Sunday, Sarkar said, “The central government is eroding the foundations of constitutional and democratic institutions, such as the Election Commission of India and the independent judiciary system. The government has also attacked the Indian judiciary system and the collegium, responsible for selecting justices for the Supreme Court and High Courts.”
Sarkar pointed out a previous decision that allowed the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, and the Chief Justice of India to select the Chief and members of the Election Commission of India. However, recent developments indicate the central government’s desire to involve a central minister in the process of removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee for electing ECI members, which he found unjustified.
Sarkar accused the central government of interfering with the election commission’s operations, turning the electoral process into a mockery, and undermining the parliamentary democratic system.
The veteran leader also accused the BJP government of suppressing opposition voices to distract from its perceived failures. He stated, “There has been a significant crackdown on opposition MPs in parliament and in state assemblies controlled by the BJP.”
Despite these challenges, Sarkar called for a collective effort to remove the BJP from power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing the need to intensify the movement against the BJP and disconnect them from the general public politically.