IN continuation of protests by the Left parties and various mass organisations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a convention was organised on January 12, at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Hyderabad. CPI(M) secretariat member D G Narasimha Rao gave the keynote address.

The convention declared the formation of ‘Forum for Protection of Constitutional Rights’ that was formed with 200 organisations and groups. Shanta Sinha, champion of child rights, was elected its chairperson. A committee of 180 members was formed by the forum. K R Venugopal, Madabhusi Sreedhar and Kaki Madhava Rao, have been elected as advisors and Rama Melkote, MLC Narsi Reddy, Vikaruddin, Jaheeruddin Alikhan, J B Raju, R Krishniah, Maskati Ali, Md Ansari, Abhishek Nandan (HCU) and Sheik Najeeb (TISSUE) as vice chaipersons.  One member each from institutes like EFFLU, Nalsar and Manu would be part of the membership. T Veerabhadram, Chada Venkatareddy, Potu Rangarao, K Govardhan, Majeedulla Khan, Lugna Saravat, Tandra kumar, Janaki ramulu, B Surender, Prasad, Vimalakka, Rajesh and others were elected from Left parties and mass organisations.

The forum announced that a feeling of insecurity is prevalent among the people of the country, with the passing of CAA, NPR and NRC and that they are going to fight for the protection of the constitution. State-wide agitations will be organised on January 23, on the death anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, on January 26 Republic Day and on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. A call has been given to fly kites with anti-CAA and anti-NRC slogans on them. 

The Forum condoled the death of 70 people who died in the country wide protests against CAA and NRC. It appealed to the people that they should reject the BJP government which is trying to  divide people on communal grounds. It congratulated the 13 state governments which announced that they are not going to implement CAA and NRC.

Former RTI central commissioner Madabhushi Sreedhar, speaking on the occasion, said that 15 informations are sought in NRC and he expressed anxiety over how the poor and illiterate masses are going to provide the documents to prove their citizenship. “If document evidence is not there, they have to bring three witnesses and whom are they going to get?” he questioned. “The government instead of catching the intruders, is going to harass all the people. In Assam, a person who fought on borders is being denied citizenship. How will it be if mother is accepted as a citizen, but the daughter is denied it,” he questioned.

Shanta Sinha said that seeing the youth in the forefront of the fight in the present context has given them inspiration. She congratulated the youth that rejected the CAA and NRC. Whatever be the Supreme Court verdict on the Act, the Act should be opposed totally, she said. “This is not a fight between the right and left or between the Hindus and Muslims, but a fight between the supporters of the constitution and its opponents. The constitution stands for equality, democracy, secularism and socialism and the BJP is saying that they are opposing these values,” she said.

K R Venugopal, former secretary to the PM, said that political parties failed in opposing CAA and NRC but the youth is showing the way in the country. “There is a civil war going on and the atmosphere will change only if CAA and NRC are stopped. The fight from Telangana against CAA and NRC has begun and victory will be of the democrats”, he said. CPI(M) secretary T Veerabhadram said that the political parties are targeting seats and elections but forgot the duty of building the nation and extending the secular and democratic sentiments. He said that a house to house campaign will be conducted to explain the dangers of CAA and NRC to the general public.

CPI  state secretary Chada Venkata Reddy, MLC Narsi Reddy, CPI(ML) New democracy leader Potu Rangarao, K Govardhan, HCU Students Union president Abhishek Nandan CPI(ML) leader Prasad, RSP leader Janaki Ramulu, Rajesh, CITU leader M Saibabu and others also spoke.