Akhil Gogoi alleged the arrests were aimed at silencing opposition to land acquisition and corporate projects, while also renewing his demand for a permanent solution to Guwahati’s artificial floods
Guwahati: Raijor Dal legislators staged a black-clad protest on the premises of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday, demanding the release of human rights activist Pranab Doley and tribal leader Aditya Rabha, who were recently arrested in connection with separate protests against land-related projects in Assam.
Dressed in black shirts and masks, the MLAs raised slogans against the BJP government, alleging that the arrests were intended to suppress voices opposing land acquisition affecting indigenous communities.
Addressing reporters outside the Assembly, Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi claimed the Assam government was attempting to weaken legal safeguards protecting Tribal Belt and Block land in order to facilitate projects involving large corporate groups. He alleged that the arrests of Doley and Rabha were linked to protests against the proposed Satellite City project and alleged land allocation for hospitality projects in Kaziranga.
“We will never allow the land of the indigenous people and Assamese people to be taken away. That is why we have come to the Assembly wearing black and demanding their release,” Gogoi said.
Rabha was arrested after participating in demonstrations against the proposed Satellite City project, while Doley was arrested in connection with a case registered at Bokakhat Police Station following his protest against the proposed construction of luxury hotels in Kaziranga. Doley had earlier alleged that land at Ingle Pathar in Hatikhuli had been reclassified and allotted to a hospitality company.
Responding to questions about his series of symbolic protests during the Budget Session, Gogoi said he had consistently raised the issue of Guwahati’s recurring artificial floods. He recalled that on the opening day of the session, he and fellow Raijor Dal MLA Mahbubul Haque wore life jackets inside the Assembly complex to highlight the city’s flood situation.
He also urged the government to implement comprehensive drainage and flood management projects in both Guwahati and his constituency, Sivasagar, stating that recurring urban flooding remains unresolved despite years of assurances.
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