KCR mulls anti-CAA conclave

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wants to mobilise all the forces which are opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country and bring them under one umbrella to mount pressure on the Centre to repeal the Act.

KCR is contemplating taking the lead in this direction by organising a conclave of all the parties opposed to the Act sometime during March. The conclave is likely to be convened after the budget session of the State Assembly.

It is learnt that this issue was discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting on Sunday. It has also decided to pass a resolution opposing the CAA during the budget session.

Top sources said that KCR analysed the CAA impact on the just-held Delhi assembly elections in which AAP retained power with huge mandate of people and the BJP suffered a debilitating defeat.

"The TRS chief stressed on the need to unite like-minded forces in the country against the Union government on CAA, NPR and NRC. The TRS would invite leaders of all likeminded political parties, including chief ministers of non-BJP ruling states.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, DMK leader Stalin, JD (U) leader HD Kumaraswamy, SP leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and others will be among the invitees.

Whether the Congress too would be invited or not will be known only after the finalisation of the programme.

"Big mandate given to the TRS in the recently held municipal elections is enough to prove that people are not supporting the CAA and it is the time to raise a united voice against the Centre at national level," a senior leader said.