New Delhi: The Assam government's decision to detain indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) has ignited a political firestorm, with the Congress party on Sunday accusing the state of "weaponising" extraordinary laws to suppress dissent. The opposition party condemned the action as a "blatant misuse" of preventive detention statutes and an overreach of state power, suggesting it is part of a growing trend by BJP-led administrations.
Doley was taken into custody under the NSA on July 30, a day after a district court had granted him bail. According to the Congress, his arrest stems from his support for local villagers protesting a proposed five-star resort project near the ecologically sensitive Kaziranga National Park, a venture reportedly backed by the Assam Chief Minister.
For over two years, indigenous residents of Golaghat district have voiced strong objections to the resort, contending that the land earmarked for the project was forcibly acquired from them. These communities have not only engaged in protests but also pursued legal recourse, petitioning the Gauhati High Court against the development since 2022.
A senior Congress leader, commenting on the development, highlighted a concerning pattern where state governments appear to be increasingly employing such potent laws to silence critical voices and quell protests. The invocation of the NSA against an activist championing land rights for tribal communities, especially after a court had granted him bail, raises serious questions about democratic principles and the fundamental right to peaceful protest and advocacy. This incident underscores broader concerns about the space for dissent in the region.
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