Guwahati: The Congress on Sunday criticised the Assam government over the detention of indigenous and land rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act (NSA), alleging that the move reflects a growing pattern of BJP governments “weaponising” preventive detention laws to suppress dissent.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Assam government invoked the NSA against Doley on July 30, a day after a district court granted him bail in a case linked to protests against a proposed five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park.
Calling the action a “blatant misuse” of preventive detention laws, Ramesh alleged that the detention order was based on vague and speculative allegations, including claims that Doley had engaged in “suspicious foreign transactions from doubtful sources”.
“The use of the NSA against Doley is part of a growing pattern of BJP governments weaponising extraordinary laws to silence dissent,” Ramesh said in a social media post.
He said Doley was arrested for supporting villagers protesting against the proposed luxury hotel project near Kaziranga, which has faced opposition from indigenous residents of Golaghat district since 2022. According to Ramesh, the affected residents had approached the Gauhati High Court, alleging that their land was forcibly acquired.
Referring to the July 29 bail order, Ramesh said the sessions court had observed that “where ecological preservation intersects with indigenous survival, criminal law cannot be used to suppress legitimate local anxieties”. He alleged that the Assam government invoked the NSA despite the court’s observations.
Ramesh further said preventive detention laws should not be used to defeat or circumvent judicial orders granting bail, noting that the Supreme Court and several high courts had repeatedly cautioned against such use of the law.
His remarks came days after Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi also criticised the detention, alleging that it reflected the state government’s intolerance towards dissent. Gogoi had also referred to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s warning about invoking the NSA against artists over a mural of singer Zubeen Garg in Guwahati.
Doley was arrested in Guwahati on July 12 and lodged in Golaghat district jail. He secured bail on July 29 in connection with a protest held in June. However, the Assam government invoked the NSA the following day, ensuring his continued detention.
The detention order, issued under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980, directed that Doley be lodged in Golaghat District Jail.
Doley has been leading protests against the proposed luxury hotel project near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park, alleging that it poses a threat to the region’s fragile ecology.