No protesting farmer known as for questioning by NIA: Govt in RS

The authorities on Wednesday knowledgeable Rajya Sabha that no farmer taking part within the ongoing farmers’ protests has been known as for questioning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
In a written reply to a query on “whether the NIA summoned farmers participating in the ongoing farmers’ protests”, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy stated, “No, sir.”
The authorities was additionally requested whether or not these farmers had been summoned as witnesses or whether or not they had been charged with any crime. To this, Reddy stated that the questions don’t come up since nobody was known as.

Last month, whilst protests continued at Delhi’s borders and the federal government was holding talks with farmers, the NIA had summoned round 40 individuals, stated to be related to the farmers’ protests ultimately, for questioning in reference to a case of terror funding. The NIA investigations focussed on funds allegedly funnelled by banned pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) into India for terror actions and mass demonstrations in opposition to the federal government.
Among the primary few individuals to be summoned was Baldev Singh Sirsa, the president of Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society (LBIWS), which is likely one of the unions taking part in talks with the federal government over the brand new farm legal guidelines.
The NIA, which is investigating a number of instances in opposition to SFJ, registered a recent case in opposition to the proscribed organisation on December 15. The FIR stated SFJ was sending overseas funds by NGOs to “pro-Khalistani” components for “on-ground campaign and propaganda against Government of India”.

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A verification of all of the summons by The Indian Express had discovered that these summoned by the NIA within the case had been united by their affiliation, ultimately or the opposite, with the farmers’ protests on the borders of Delhi. Most of them had been both related to organising langar or different logistics on the protest websites or offering transportation aside from some who had supplied funds for the protests to maintain.
Home Ministry sources stated all those that have been summoned have just lately obtained funds from overseas from sources that seem doubtful. “At this moment none of those who are being summoned are accused or suspects. But if they are in receipt of foreign funds, the agency has all the right to ask what these funds are meant for,” a ministry official stated.
We don’t have any quarrel with funds being collected to assist farmers’ protests. But there’s suspicion that a few of these funds collected within the identify of farmers have been diverted by sure vested pursuits to fund secessionist actions of the SFJ. That half wants investigation,” the official stated.