Page 36 - 31JAN2020E4

Congress tries hard to unite

Opposition over CAA-NRC

The party seeks to resurrect
itself nationally riding on the
widespread public anger
against the Centre’s move,

writes amit agnihotri
he Congress’ attempt to build
Opposition unity around the
Citizenship Amendment Act
and the National Register of
T Citizens issues has hit a bump
ahead of the crucial budget session of
Parliament starting January 31 with
several parties absenting from a recent
strategy meet in Delhi.
The Congress, which has publicly de-
manded withdrawal of the controversial
CAA and stoppage of the proposed NRC,
has been trying to resurrect the party na-
tionally riding on the widespread public
anger against the Centre’s move. The
meeting of opposition parties on January
13 in Delhi was aimed at broad basing the
protests in an attempt to corner the rul-
ing Bharatiya Janata Party.
But West Bengal chief minister and
Trinamool Congress president Mamata
Banerjee, DMK, Bahujan Samaj Party, AAP which avoided the anti-CAA pro- these regional parties would continues
Shiv Sena and Aam Aadmi Party skipped tests in Delhi too chose to stay away to provide resistance to the Congress
the strategy session convened by the keeping in mind the assembly polls on plan’s of reviving itself in the states like
Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi February 8 though chief minister Arvind UP, West Bengal and Delhi.
indicating that all was not well in the Kejriwal said there was no need for the Congress insiders played down some
Opposition camp. law at present when everyone should fo- parties missing Sonia’s strategy meet
While Mamata Banerjee, who has cus on creating jobs. saying they were at least principally
been waging a war against the CAA The DMK, an old Congress ally, said opposed to the BJP’s move. As a matter of
and the BJP, sees herself as the rally- it was miffed over party chief MK Stalin some relief, opposition parties like NCP
ing point behind opposition unity, BSP recently being blamed for not following chief Sharad Pawar, LJD chief Sharad
supremo Mayawati clarified later that the coalition dharma in the local body Yadav, CPI-M and CPI leaders Sitaram
it was against the divisive move but did polls in Tamil Nadu. This means that Yechury and D Raja respectively, attend-
not want to be seen playing the Congress taking along these party leaders during ed the meet. The strategy session came
tune. Sena, which has of late become part the budget session may not prove to be after the all powerful Congress Work-
of the Congress camp, said it wanted to an easy task for the Congress managers ing Committee last week debated and
wait till the Supreme Court had taken a though they seem determined to take on passed a unanimous resolution terming
view over the controversial CAA. The the BJP in Parliament. It also means that CAA-NRC as divisive and demanded its

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