CPI decries NIA over notice to protesting farmers

CPI General Secretary D Raja slammed the National Investigation Agency for serving notices to several people including farmer leaders, journalists, transporters. He further alleged that the government is trying to tarnish the image of ongoing farmers' agitation by asking the Agency to issue notices and calling people as anti-nationals and terrorists.

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday vehemently criticised the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for serving notices to several people including farmer leaders, journalists, transporters among others in connection with their alleged link with banned outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ).

Speaking to ETV Bharat, CPI General Secretary D Raja said, "The government should accept the demand of the farmer unions and repeal all these three agriculture laws. Instead of doing so, the government is thinking that it can tarnish the image of ongoing farmers' agitation by asking NIA to issue notices and calling people as anti-nationals and terrorists."

Stating that the action taken by the NIA is totally objectionable, Raja said, "The timing of the Agency sending notices is highly questionable. If NIA had such inputs, what was it doing all these years? Suddenly NIA woke up because farmers are so united."

Even as the deadlock over three farms laws continues, the NIA on Saturday issued notices to dozens of Punjabi and Sikh activists, taking part in farmers protest, in connection with an FIR registered by the investigation agency against US-based outfits SFJ, a pro-Khalistan organisation.

It may be mentioned here that the NIA had filed an FIR on December 15 in Delhi against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu from the US, Paramjit Singh Pamma based in UK and Hardeep Singh Najjar of Canada. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu heads the SFJ.

Sources in NIA said that the filed FIR mentioned that SFJ is an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Khalistani terrorist outfits like Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Tiger Force along with other frontal organisations have entered into a conspiracy to create an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness and to cause disaffection in people and to incite them towards rising rebellion against the Indian government, said sources in the NIA.

The NIA notice has been served to Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society (LBIWS) Baldev Singh Sirsa, film artist turned activist Deep Sidhu's brother Mandeep Singh and several others.

Notices have been served to several transporters who helped the agitators to reach to the Sindhu border.

"People is now questioning the intention of the government. Modi government is using all its agencies to target the opposition and targeting anybody who is questioning the government," said Raja.

In case of several academicians, intellectuals and activists and even civil society organisations, the government is using all its agencies to defame them, he said.

"Modi government is totally arrogant and it has committed to protecting the interests of the corporates, big business houses...and that is why it is undermining the farmers," said Raja.

He further said that the government is not at all sincere in holding talks. "Talks can't happen just for the sake of talking. The government should be sensible and look into the problems of farmers," added Raja.

Meanwhile, barricades have been put up outside NIA headquarter in New Delhi as a precautionary security measure.