'We will never allow indigenous land to be handed over': Akhil Gogoi protests arrest of Assam activists

Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi staged another symbolic protest outside the Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday, July 13, during the ongoing Budget Session, wearing a black shirt, black mask and carrying placards to demand the release of tribal leader Aditya Rabha and farmers' leader Pranab Doley.
 

The Sivasagar MLA alleged that the two leaders were arrested for opposing the Assam government's alleged move to hand over land to large corporate groups. He claimed the arrests were aimed at suppressing voices protesting against land policies affecting indigenous communities.
 

Addressing reporters outside the Assembly, Gogoi said Rabha and Doley had protested against what he described as the transfer of Assam's land to "big corporate houses."
 

"Tribal belts and blocks are the strongest protection for the indigenous people of Assam. We will never allow the land of the indigenous people and Assamese people to be handed over. That is why we have come to the Assembly wearing black as a mark of protest and demanding their release," he said.
 

Responding to questions on his series of daily protests during the Budget Session, Gogoi said he has consistently raised the issue of Guwahati's recurring artificial floods since the opening day of the session.
 

He recalled that on the first day of the Budget Session, he and fellow Raijor Dal MLA Mahbubul Haque, popularly known as Mukhtar, wore life jackets to draw attention to the city's flood situation.
 

"Even after 25 years in power, the Chief Minister has failed to solve Guwahati's artificial flood problem. How many more years will it take? We demand a comprehensive drainage project to permanently address flash floods in Guwahati," Gogoi said.
 

He also said that Sivasagar, his home constituency, continues to face artificial flooding and urged the government to implement a comprehensive drainage and flood management project there as well.
 

Gogoi has staged a series of symbolic protests outside the Assembly throughout the ongoing Budget Session, raising issues including urban flooding, land rights and the arrest of activists.