India, Aug. 17 -- The Assam Congress on Monday staged a protest near Kaziranga National Park against the state government's proposal to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the World Heritage Site, alleging that the move was aimed at facilitating corporate mining.

Scores of Congress workers, led by state party president and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, gathered at Kohora Range and raised slogans demanding protection of Kaziranga and withdrawal of the proposal.

Addressing the protesters, Gogoi alleged that the move to shrink the ESZ was part of a "deep-rooted conspiracy" to benefit corporate groups, including the Adani and Ambani groups, and facilitate large-scale commercial mining in the neighbouring ...