New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday alleged that the Assam government had misused the National Security Act (NSA) by invoking it against land rights activist Pranab Doley, a day after a district court granted him bail.
In a post on X, Ramesh described the move as a "blatant misuse of preventive detention laws".
"On 30 July, the Assam government invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against land rights activist Pranab Doley, just a day after the district court granted him bail. This is a blatant misuse of preventive detention laws and an overreach by the state," Ramesh said.
On 30 July, the Assam Government invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against land rights activist Pranab Doley, just a day after the District Court granted him bail. This is a blatant misuse of preventive detention laws and overreach by the state.Doley has been arrested for…
He further alleged, "Doley has been arrested for supporting villagers who protested against a proposed five-star resort near Kaziranga National Park that the Assam Chief Minister had backed."
The Congress leader said indigenous residents of Golaghat had been protesting against the project since 2022 and had also approached the Gauhati High Court, arguing that their land had been forcibly acquired.
Ramesh also referred to the Sessions Court's order granting bail to Doley on 29 July, quoting the court as observing that "where ecological preservation intersects with indigenous survival, criminal law cannot be used to suppress legitimate local anxieties".
"It is clear that the Assam government invoked the NSA to do exactly that," he alleged.
Ramesh further claimed that Doley's detention order under the NSA relied on "vague and speculative allegations", including accusations that he 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," he alleged.
He also claimed that similar instances had occurred in Uttar Pradesh, where, according to him, the NSA had been invoked against labour activists protesting over working conditions in Noida.
"BJP governments across the country cannot suppress legitimate grievances of working-class, indigenous, and marginalised communities through arrests and draconian laws," he said.
Ramesh further alleged that the Assam government had shown "utter disregard for the rule of law and for democratic dissent", adding that the Supreme Court of India and several high courts had repeatedly cautioned against using preventive detention laws to circumvent judicial orders granting bail or prolong incarceration.
Doley was arrested on 12 July in connection with a criminal case registered at Bokakhat Police Station following protests against the proposed construction of luxury hotels near Kaziranga.
He had raised concerns over the alleged allocation of land at Ingle Pathar in Hatikhuli, Kaziranga, claiming that the land had been reclassified and allotted to a hospitality company.