Humza Yousaf has insisted the campaign for Scottish independence is "stepping up a gear" despite disagreement in his party over the best way forward.
The First Minister spoke out after the SNP announced it would hold a "special independence convention" on June 24 in Dundee. The party had previously planned to hold a similar event in March but it was cancelled following Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation.
She has previously planned to call an IndyRef2 on October 19 this year before judges shot down her plans.
Yousaf tweeted: "Indy campaigning stepping up a gear. Let's get out there and take our positive case to every doorstep in Scotland."
Keith Brown, the SNP depute leader, said: "The SNP is laser focused on ensuring the people of Scotland have the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.
"We have won election after election and have a cast iron mandate for a fresh independence referendum - but the Westminster system is refusing to respect Scotland’s democratic wishes. As the only mass membership political party in Scotland we are calling on our members - the lifeblood of our party and movement - to help us secure that key vote that our country needs.
"Members from every corner of Scotland will join Humza Yousaf, Stephen Flynn and representatives from across the party for the one-day Independence Convention event in Dundee."
SNP members are split over strategy on how to achieve independence after the UK Supreme Court ruled last year that Holyrood lacks the legal powers to call a referendum. Ash Regan, who lost out in the leadership race to succeed Sturgeon, declared last week "the referendum route is dead".
The SNP MSP claimed that pro-independence parties needed only to achieve a simple majority of votes in Scotland at any Westminster or Holyrood election to win a mandate for ending the Union. Regan also wants any convention to open to parties beyond the SNP - raising the prospect of Alex Salmond's Alba party being given a role in a future campaign.
She added: "An independence convention with all pro-indy parties, think tanks and leaders in civic society must be assembled urgently. The Yes brand needs to be transferred to this body.
"Support will not rise without a civic led campaign. A motivated campaign needs a date/event to work towards. The choice of independence must be expressed via the ballot box."
Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservatives spokesman on the constitution, said: "The SNP again demonstrate that they have no interest in tackling Scotland’s real priorities, but prefer to talk among themselves about their favourite obsession.
"They’ve even dropped the pretence that this meeting had anything to do with democracy – because they know most Scots reject their separatist agenda – and are now calling it a special independence convention.
"Humza Yousaf couldn’t make it clearer that this is continuity SNP – continuing to push their divisive plans and ignoring the real issues."
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