Congress Condemns Assam Government's Use of National Security Act Against Activist

Congress Criticizes Assam's Actions Against Activist

New Delhi, August 2 - The Congress party has raised concerns over the Assam government's detention of tribal rights activist Pranab Dole under the National Security Act (NSA). They argue that this action reflects a troubling trend where BJP-led governments utilize stringent laws as tools to suppress dissenting voices. The party described this as a blatant misuse of preventive detention laws and an infringement on rights by the state government. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to highlight that the Assam government imposed the NSA on Dole just a day after a district court granted him bail on July 30.

Ramesh stated, “This is a clear misuse of preventive detention laws and an infringement on rights by the state government.” He pointed out that Dole was arrested for supporting local villagers protesting against a proposed five-star resort near Kaziranga National Park, a project backed by the Chief Minister of Assam. Since 2022, the indigenous people of Golaghat district have opposed this project and even filed a petition in the Guwahati High Court, claiming their land was forcibly acquired.

He noted that during the bail hearing on July 29, the session court remarked that criminal laws should not be used to silence genuine concerns of local communities regarding environmental protection and the existence of indigenous peoples. Ramesh accused the Assam government of attempting to do exactly what the court had warned against by imposing the NSA. He emphasized that the detention order against Dole is based on vague and speculative allegations.

Among these allegations is the claim that he engaged in “suspicious foreign transactions from dubious sources.” Ramesh criticized this as a familiar tactic of the Modi government, stating, “The use of the NSA against Dole is part of a growing trend where BJP governments weaponize laws that grant special powers to suppress dissent.” He also drew parallels to similar incidents in Uttar Pradesh, where labor rights activists protesting against exploitative working conditions were also subjected to the NSA.

He asserted that BJP governments across the country cannot stifle legitimate grievances of workers, indigenous peoples, and marginalized communities through arrests and harsh laws. Ramesh remarked, “The Assam government is completely disregarding the rule of law and democratic dissent. The Supreme Court and various High Courts have repeatedly stated that preventive detention laws should not be used to nullify judicial orders granting bail or to keep individuals unnecessarily imprisoned for extended periods.”

Ramesh's comments come at a time when Dole was detained under the stringent National Security Act just a day after being granted bail in a case related to protests against the proposed five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park.

Earlier, on Saturday, Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Congress Assam unit, also criticized this move, stating it clearly indicates that the state government is intolerant of dissent. He further alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma threatened to impose the NSA against artists concerning a mural by singer Jubin Garg in Guwahati. Dole, who was arrested on July 13 from Guwahati, was held in Golaghat district jail.

He had received bail from the court on Wednesday in connection with protests that occurred in June. However, the state government imposed the NSA the very next day, resulting in his continued detention in the same jail, as per the official order.