CWC Passes Resolution Asking Govt to Withdraw CAA, Stop NPR Process

New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday demanded that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act be withdrawn and the process of National Population Register (NPR) be stopped forthwith as it accused the BJP government of using its brute majority to impose a "divisive and discriminatory" agenda.

The Congress top brass meeting, chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, deliberated upon the social, economic and political challenges confronting the country after which it passed a resolution on "suppression of the voice of youth and the students of India".

"The Modi government has unleashed the entire might of the brute state power to suppress, subjugate and stifle the voice of the youth and students across the country. The prime minister and the BJP government have betrayed the trust of the youth," the resolution stated.

Almost every institution in the country — Delhi University, JNU, Jamia Millia University, Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and many others — have seen massive protests, it noted.

The CWC expresses its solidarity with the youth and the students in their fight for defending the Constitution, standing for independent and creative learning and aspiring for employment-linked education at a minimal expense, the resolution said.

Apart from Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top party leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, AK Antony, KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia were among those present. Former party president Rahul Gandhi was not present at the meeting.

The Congress also released a statement on the four main issues that were discussed — the CAA, NRC, NPR and students protests; the state of the economy; the situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir; and the US-Iran tensions.

"The CWC demands that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act should be withdrawn and the process of NPR be stopped forthwith," a party statement said.

The CWC calls upon the government to reveal its roadmap for reviving the economy, investors' confidence and job creation, it said.

The party's top decision-making body also called for lifting of curbs and restoration of civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. It also expressed deep concerns over the recent developments in the Gulf region where tensions have spiralled between the US and Iran over the killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.