Farmers Protest Day 51: NIA summons 13 including Baldev Singh Sirsa
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Farmers shout slogans as they depart for Delhi to participate in a continuing demonstration against the central government's recent agricultural reforms in Amritsar
New Delhi: As the farmers protest entered day 51, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has served notice to at least 13 activists including Baldev Singh Sirsa, one of the leaders of the ongoing farmers protest against the contentious agricultural laws, sources close to the farmers unions said.
Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, Balwinder Pal Singh, Paramjit Singh, Jasvir Singh, Karnail Singh Ghorewla, Surinder singh Thikriwala, Inderpal Singh Judge of Ludhiana, Nobeljit Singh of Hoshiarpur, Palwinder Singh of Moga, Pardeep Singh, Ranjit Singh of Amritsar and Mandeep Sidhu are others who are reportedly served notice by NIA.
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, is summoned in connection with a case registered against a leader of the outlawed outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
He is asked to appear at the NIA headquarters in New Delhi on January 17 for interrogation in the case against SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannu for an alleged conspiracy to incite violence against the Government of India, the Indian Express reported.
Responding to the development, Sirsa said that these are attempts 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 prevent the Kisan Parade on January 26. The Government is immersed in defaming the protest," Sirsa said.
Reports of many youth receiving NIA summons are coming out. The accused are alleged with links with outlawed organisations like Sikh For Justice and others. However, the protesters said that none of those youths now served with the notices have any links with the flagged organisations.
The protest entered 51st day as the Delhi borders at Tikri and Singhu remained closed.
The protesters have reaffirmed their vow to intensify the protest as they are preparing to hold a massive march to the national capital on January 26, the Republic Day.
The farmers started their protest on November 26, demanding the repeal of the farm laws enacted by the parliament recently.
The ninth round of meeting between the farmers and the central government ended without any resolve to the impasse as the government stood firm on its stance.
More than fifty farmers have committed suicide since the protest started and 20 others died due to adverse climatic conditions prevailing in North India.
Despite the strong pressure mounting from international and domestic constituents, the government has not inclined to give in.