Opposition Fails To Unite Over CAA As Major Parties Skip Meeting Convened By Sonia Gandhi

Looks like the call to strategise over CAA by interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has not evoked much-needed response from the other key partners in the Opposition as major parties have decided to skip the crucial meet that is convened by Gandhi later in the day. After West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee, other major Opposition parties have also announced that they will not attend the meet over CAA. As speculated by many, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will also skip the meet. There was a buzz that Kejriwal wants to devote his time only on the preparations of the Delhi Assembly Polls, which are scheduled for next month.

The third big jolt to the Congress came on Monday when the Bahujan Samaj party also announced that it will skip the meet. BSP chief Mayawati took to Twitter to formally make the announcement. News Nation has now learnt that Shiv Sena, an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra government, is also likely to remain absent at the meet. Sources have told News Nation that the party had not received any invite from the Congress.

The Congress Mantra

The Congress Working Committee has already passed a resolution asking the government to withdraw the CAA and stop work on the National Population Register (NPR). Assemblies in Congress-ruled States are also likely to follow the Kerala Assembly in bringing resolutions to not implement the CAA.

Also Read: Youth Being Misguided On Citizenship Amendment Act: PM Modi

Addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday, Sonia Gandhi had said thousands of young men and women, especially students have realized the "grave harm" that implementation of the new Citizenship law will cause. They have taken to the streets braving the cold as well as police brutalities, Gandhi said. "We demand that a comprehensive high-powered commission be constituted to enquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests and give justice to the affected persons," she said.

Upset Mamata

Also Read: Prashant Kishor 'Thanks' Congress For Resolution Against CAA, BJP Fumes

On January 9, Mamata Banerjee had said that she will not attend the Opposition meet. News Nation had reported that the West Bengal Chief Minister had taken the decision as she was upset with both the Left and the Congress because she thought both the parties vandalised public property in the name of bandh. Sources in Trinamool said that Banerjee had said that she does not support such violence and she will not participate in something, which is related to the Left and the Congress.