Congress Demands Immediate Release of Activist Pranab Doley in Assam

Call for Action in Bokakhat

Guwahati, Sept 6: The Congress party has called for the unconditional release of Pranab Doley, an activist advocating for indigenous rights, who is currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA).

The party has accused the BJP-led government in Assam of misusing this stringent law to silence dissent regarding the alleged infringement of indigenous land rights.

During a citizens' meeting in Bokakhat aimed at securing Doley's release, Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and Member of Parliament, expressed strong disapproval of the government's actions against the activist.

Gogoi also urged the government to reverse its decision to shrink the boundaries of Kaziranga's Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), linking Doley's detention to broader issues of land and indigenous rights.

According to Gogoi, Doley was arrested on July 12 after protesting on June 28. Although he was granted bail on July 29, he was later detained under the NSA.

“When did an Indian citizen expressing concerns for the welfare of the people become a national security issue?” Gogoi questioned, challenging the rationale behind the government's use of the law.

He claimed that the allegations against Doley were flimsy and accused the government of employing the NSA to stifle those who advocate for land and indigenous rights.

Earlier, Bokakhat saw a protest march led by local residents and supporters of Doley, who voiced their demands for his release and raised alarms about the future of Kaziranga.

The demonstrators alleged that local authorities had locked the auditorium of a tribal rest house where the meeting was supposed to take place, despite having received administrative approval and paid the rental fee.

This forced the organizers to relocate the gathering to a nearby area, causing frustration among attendees.

Gogoi criticized the cancellation of the auditorium's permission, noting that the meeting ultimately had to be held in a local resident's courtyard.

“Why is the government intimidated by peaceful protests and democratic gatherings?” the APCC chief questioned.

Congress leaders and local residents demanding the release of Pranab Doley (Photo - @INCAssam / X)

Debabrata Saikia, a former Leader of the Opposition, also condemned Doley's detention, asserting that advocating for one's land and rights should not be equated with treason.

“The government is transferring the land of Assam's indigenous tribes to capitalists, while those opposing such actions are being wrongfully accused of sedition,” he claimed.

Ripun Bora, a former APCC president, echoed these sentiments, accusing the government of employing harsh laws to silence indigenous voices protesting against its policies.

“We will persist in our collective struggle to safeguard the land and rights of local communities surrounding Kaziranga. The movement across Assam will escalate if Doley is not released promptly,” Bora stated.

The meeting saw participation from Saikia, Bora, Etuwa Munda, chairman of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Adivasi Congress, and Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, along with numerous local residents.