New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned several individuals including Baldev Singh Sirsa, the president of Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society (LBIWS) and Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu in connection with a case registered against a leader of the outlawed outfit, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The LBIWS is one of the unions participating in talks with the Government over the new farm laws.
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."
NIA has also sent notices to some Punjab based journalists and activists in this case.
It was later reported that the NIA also asked Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu to appear before it on January 17 for questioning in connection with a case registered under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and various IPC sections.
On Friday, LBIWS was represented by Puran Singh in the ninth round of talks with the government.
Speaking to a media organisation, 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.
Won't be able to appear before NIA on Jan 17: Sirsa
However, Sirsa later in the day said he will not be able to appear before the NIA on Sunday owing to his pre-occupations relating to the wedding of his granddaughter and he would remain busy in family affairs till February 7.
Read: 'Farm laws will strengthen agri sector, improve economic condition'
He said he got the notice on WhatsApp at a short notice and there was no formal notice from the agency.
The President of Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society, one of the unions participating in talks with the Government of India over the new farm laws, on Friday night came to know from a reporter that the NIA issued him a notice in connection with a case registered against banned outfit the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
Talking to the media in Amritsar, Sirsa accused the central government for trying to derail the farmers' protest by adopting various means.
"First, they (the government) tried to put pressure on us (farmers) through people and politicians and then through the Supreme Court. Now it is using the NIA," he said candidly.
Without mincing words, he said, "The government is trying to 'torpedo' our agitation."
Accompanying three others who too got the NIA notice regarding the case against the SFJ activists, the farmer leader, who didn't participate in the last and the ninth round of talks between the farmers and the government, asked the NIA to give him time to appear before it after February 7.
The NIA FIR
Earlier on Tuesday, Attorney General K K Venugopal had told the Supreme Court that the government has "been informed there is a Khalistani infiltration" in the ongoing farmers' protests on Delhi's outskirts.
Read: BKU files reply before SC against Committee to look into farmers' issue
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.
The NIA's FIR in the case accuses "Sikhs For Justice, an 'Unlawful Association' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and other Khalistani terrorist outfits" of entering into a conspiracy.
The FIR claims that "huge funds are being collected abroad for on-ground campaigns and propaganda against the Government of India including staging demonstrations outside Indian missions in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Germany and so forth."
It claims that the "funds so collected are being sent through Non-Governmental Organisations to pro-Khalistani elements based in India, to undertake terrorist acts and to strike terror in the people of India."
According to the FIR, the "SFJ leadership has planned large scale disruptive activities intended to damage government and private property and also disrupt supplies and services essential to the life of the community of India."
It claims that "SFJ and other pro-Khalistani elements involved in this conspiracy, through their incessant social media campaign and otherwise, are radicalizing and recruiting impressionable youth to agitate and undertake terrorist acts for the creation of a separate nation of Khalistan."
(With inputs from agencies)
