Congress Condemns Assam Government's Detention of Activist Pranab Doley
Congress Criticizes Detention Under NSA
File image of indigenous activist Pranab Doley, who has been detained under NSA a day after securing bail (Photo: Pranab Doley/Meta)
New Delhi, Aug 2: The Congress party has expressed strong disapproval of the Assam government's decision to detain indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act (NSA). They argue that this action exemplifies a troubling trend of BJP-led administrations using extraordinary laws to suppress dissent.
The opposition party labeled the government's actions as a "clear misuse" of preventive detention laws, indicating an overreach by the state.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress's general secretary for communications, stated that the NSA was invoked against Doley on July 30, just one day after he was granted bail by a district court.
"This represents a blatant misuse of preventive detention laws and an overreach by the state. The invocation of the NSA against Doley is indicative of a broader pattern where BJP governments weaponize extraordinary laws to silence opposition," Ramesh remarked on social media.
He claimed that the NSA detention order was based on vague and speculative allegations, including assertions that Doley was involved in "suspicious foreign transactions from dubious sources," which he characterized as part of the current government's familiar narrative.
Ramesh noted that Doley was arrested for his support of local villagers protesting against a proposed five-star resort near Kaziranga National Park, a project endorsed by the Assam government.
He highlighted that the indigenous community in Golaghat district has been opposing this project since 2022 and had even approached the Gauhati High Court, alleging that the land was forcibly taken from them.
Referring to the bail order from July 29, he mentioned that the sessions court had remarked that "where ecological preservation intersects with indigenous survival, criminal law cannot be used to suppress legitimate local concerns."
"It is evident that the Assam government invoked the NSA to achieve precisely that," he alleged.
Ramesh further emphasized that BJP governments nationwide cannot stifle the legitimate grievances of working-class, indigenous, and marginalized communities through arrests and harsh laws.
"The Assam government continues to exhibit a complete disregard for the rule of law and democratic dissent. The Supreme Court and various high courts have consistently warned that preventive detention laws should not be employed to undermine judicial orders granting bail or merely to extend a person's detention," he stated.
His comments followed Doley's detention under the stringent NSA, occurring just a day after he secured bail related to protests against the proposed five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi also condemned the government's actions, asserting that it reflects the state administration's intolerance towards dissent.
Gogoi additionally referenced 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 13 and placed in Golaghat district jail. He was granted bail on July 29 concerning a protest that took place in June.
However, the Assam government invoked the NSA against him the following day, ensuring his continued detention in the same facility, as per the detention order.
The order, issued under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act, 1980, stated that preventive detention was necessary and mandated that Doley be held in Golaghat District Jail.
Doley has been a prominent figure in protests against the proposed five-star hotel project near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park, claiming that it threatens the delicate ecology of the area.