NIA summons farm union leader Sirsa for questioning

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned Baldev Singh Sirsa, the president of Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society (LBIWS) which is one of the unions participating in talks with the government over the new farm laws, in connection with a case registered against a leader of the outlawed outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

Sirsa has been asked to appear at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi on January 17 for questioning in the case against SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannu for an alleged conspiracy to create an “atmosphere of fear and lawlessness and to cause disaffection in people and to incite them towards rising in rebellion against the Government of India”, according to media reports

On January 15, LBIWS was represented by Puran Singh in the ninth round of talks with the Government. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sirsa accused the Centre of trying to derail the farmers’ protest. “First, the Government tried to derail the farmer agitation through the Supreme Court, now it is using the NIA,” he said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal had told the Supreme Court earlier in the week that the Government has “been informed there is a Khalistani infiltration” in the ongoing farmers’ protests on Delhi’s outskirts.

Sirsa is among several persons, including activists, who have been issued summons “for the purpose of answering certain questions” relating to the case against Pannu under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“Many people who are associated with the farmers’ agitation have been sent these summons. It is to terrorise those working for farmers. But we are not going to be affected by this. We will not bend. The NIA is working day and night to scuttle the kisan parade on January 26. The Government is bent on defaming the protest,” said Sirsa.