Jairam Ramesh Attacks Assam Govt: The Congress party on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Assam government for taking action under the National Security Act (NSA) against Pranab Doley, an Assamese tribal activist. The Congress party said the NSA detention order against Doley is based on vague and speculative allegations, including allegations that Doley was involved in “suspicious foreign transactions with dubious sources,” a well-known tactic of the Modi government.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted a lengthy post on his X handle. In the post, he wrote that on July 30, the Assam government invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Pranab Doley, an activist fighting for land rights. This action came just a day after the district court granted him bail. This is a blatant misuse of preventive detention laws and arbitrary action by the state.
Action taken against protest against 5-star resort near National Park
Jairam Ramesh stated that Dole was arrested for supporting villagers who opposed a proposed five-star resort near Kaziranga National Park. This resort project had the support of the Chief Minister of Assam. Since 2022, indigenous people of Golaghat have been protesting the project and have filed a petition in the Guwahati High Court. They argue that their land was forcibly taken away from them.
NSA practice on the rise under BJP governments: Jairam Ramesh
The Congress leader pointed out that while granting bail on July 29, the Sessions Court had stated that where environmental protection and the survival of indigenous peoples intersect, criminal law cannot be used to suppress the legitimate concerns of local people. Clearly, the Assam government used the NSA to do exactly that. The use of the NSA against Dole is part of a growing trend of BJP governments weaponizing extraordinary laws to suppress dissent.
He also raised questions about the action taken against workers in Noida.
Referring to the workers’ strike in Noida, he said similar attempts have been seen in Uttar Pradesh, where the NSA was invoked against workers protesting exploitative working conditions in Noida. BJP governments across the country cannot suppress the legitimate grievances of the working class, indigenous peoples, and marginalized communities through arrests and draconian laws.
He further stated that the Assam government continues to display a complete disregard for the rule of law and democratic dissent. The Supreme Court and several High Courts have repeatedly warned that preventive detention laws should not be used to circumvent or evade court orders granting bail or simply to prolong a person’s prison sentence.