The Congress party on Sunday accused the BJP-led government in Assam of misusing the National Security Act to detain land rights activist Pranab Doley shortly after he received bail, claiming the action aimed to curb democratic opposition.
Jairam Ramesh, the party’s general secretary for communications, stated that authorities applied the NSA on July 30, one day after a local court released Doley on bail. He called the step a clear abuse of preventive detention powers and an excessive exercise of state authority.
Ramesh noted that Doley was held for backing villagers who opposed a planned luxury resort near Kaziranga National Park, a project supported by the state chief minister. He added that local residents in Golaghat district have resisted the development since 2022, alleging forced land acquisition.
The Congress leader referenced the court order, which noted that criminal law should not suppress valid community concerns where environmental protection meets indigenous needs. Ramesh argued the NSA order relied on unclear claims, including alleged suspicious foreign dealings, mirroring patterns seen under the central government.
He pointed to similar uses of the law against workers in Uttar Pradesh and said the Assam administration showed repeated disregard for legal norms and public protest. Ramesh recalled that higher courts have warned against employing such measures to override bail decisions.
Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi also condemned the detention and mentioned earlier remarks by the chief minister threatening the NSA against artists over a mural in Guwahati.
