NIA notices attempt to harass farmers: Unions
Farmers say the summons could hit ongoing talks with the central govt
NEW DELHI: Notices being served by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the anti-terror organisation, on supporters of the ongoing farmers’ campaign against a set of agricultural laws could be a hurdle in ongoing talks, farmers’ unions said on Sunday, labelling the NIA action “harassment” by the government.
The unions have decided no farmer who has received such notices will appear before the agency as a mark of protest, Balbir Singh Rajewal, a senior leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a platform of unions, told HT.
The NIA has summoned over two dozen people in a case related to an organisation called Sikhs for Justice, which advocates Sikh secessionism and is allegedly aiding the protesters.
Farm union leader Baldev Singh Sirsa is among those who have also received notices.
“There are many organisations which are helping us in so many ways… by organising langars (community kitchens), logistics, tents etc. The government is trying to threaten them and weaken the agitation through harassment,” Rajewal said. “We have decided that no farmer who has got these notices will appear before the NIA as a mark of protest,” he added.
The farm unions had raised the issue of NIA summoning those who have supported the farm agitation with three Union ministers — Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash — during the ninth round of talks on January 15.
According to a press statement by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, agriculture minister Tomar had “promised to look into the matter”.
“Despite this, the notices given to the agitators even today is shameless, it shows insensitivity of the government. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha condemns act of serving these notices. In the coming days, legal action will also be taken against these notices,” the unions said in a statement.
The farm unions representing tens of thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, who have launched a mass agitation around the national capital, are demanding that the government scrap three laws approved by Parliament.
As HT had reported first, the NIA had issued summons to over two dozen people associated with farmers’ protests on January 15 asking them to appear before it in Delhi in connecting with its probe related to funding of Khalistanis, or Sikh separatists abroad ,for organising on-ground campaigns and demonstrations outside Indian missions in the UK, the US, Canada,
Germany and other countries. The probe also focuses on use of several NGOS for funding the Khalistani campaigns, particularly spearheaded by the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The agency officials say the persons called for examination have been issued notices as “witnesses” to clarify certain aspects regarding the probe.
Randhawa slams Centre for NIA summons CHANDIGARH: Punjab cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sunday slammed the Centre over notices by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to farmers and those lending support to the ongoing protest against the three farm laws. Randhawa said the farmers would not be cowed down by such empty threats. “The NIA notices are part of a devious ploy by the Bjp-led government to weaken the farmers’ movement,” the Congress leader said.
AMRITSAR: Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, film actorturned-activist Deep Sidhu and others did not appear before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for questioning in connection with a sedition case against Us-based banned pro-khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and his aides. Farmer bodies spearheading the agitation against the three farm laws had on Saturday asked all those people who got the notices not to appear till January 19, the day fixed for the next round of talks with the Centre.
Sirsa said, “It was not possible for me to go to Delhi at such a short notice. I have written to the NIA through my legal counsel that I won’t be able to appear till February 7 because of the wedding of a close relative.”
Sirsa heads the Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society that is one of the unions. He said the government was using the NIA to derail the agitation.
“I did not appear today. I am consulting legal experts for future course of action,” said Deep Sidhu. His brother Mandeep Singh Sidhu also received a similar notice but was called on a different date. “They are sending me the notice today and calling me tomorrow. I am busy in the agitation and cannot appear before it tomorrow,” Mandeep said on a Facebook live post on Saturday.
NEW DELHI: Samyukt Kisan Morcha – an umbrella body of 40 farmers’ bodies protesting at Delhi’s borders– on Sunday announced a tractor parade on Outer Ring Road on January 26, a day before the Supreme Court hearing on seeking injunction against the proposed march.
“This will be a peaceful parade. No disruption will be caused to official Republic Day celebrations or provocative speeches will be made. The national flag will be placed on all tractors,” farmer leaders said during the press conference.
Farmer leaders said they will urge the Haryana and Delhi Police to cooperate. “There will be no threat to any national heritage sites, or to any other site. The vehicles in the parade will consist of tableaus and floats that will reflect the agricultural reality of different states in addition to showcasing historical regional and other movements. No political party flags will be allowed,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.
Meanwhile, a day after India kicked off its vaccination drive against Covid , farmers protesting at Delhi’s borders maintained that they would not leave the capital to go to their home states to get vaccinated before the three contentious farm laws
What will we do with the vaccine if we lose our land and homes due to the farm laws? BALPREET SINGH, a farmer from Marur village in Firozpur
were repealed.
Though the first round of vaccines have been reserved for health care personnel followed by front line workers, the elderly – considered to be at risk – will be next in line to get the vaccines administered. This is crucial as a sizable number of farmers protesting at the national capital’s borders are above 50 years of age. On Sunday, Chamkaur Singh, 63 and his friend Dabinder Singh, 61, from Moga district of Punjab, were among the several at the protest site who said they will not return to their villages to get vaccinated unless the three new contentious farm laws were repealed.
“We have heard many doctors say that Covid-19 existed earlier as well and affected people with less immunity. There are thousands of poor people living on the streets here, who have no means to wash their hands or wear masks. How are they managing?