New Delhi, January 17, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has sent notices to individuals supporting the cause of protesting farmers has also summoned Directors and Trustees of Khalsa Aid unit in India.
They have also been asked to depose before the Agency in a case filed by the NIA against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and others of Sikhs for Justice.
Khalsa Aid’s India Director Amanpreet Singh is among those who have been summoned by the NIA.
The Sikh humanitarian charity has been actively engaged in supporting the farmers protest at Delhi Borders providing them with ‘langar’ and other facilities. Khalsa Aid has also opened a Mall to provide utility items to protesting farmers.
In a statement, issued on the subject, the Khalsa Aid said, National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has summoned union leaders, journalists and others supporting the farmers protest in Delhi.
“We are deeply concerned to learn of the summons being issued by the NIA to individuals involved in the farmers protest, ranging from bus drivers to union leaders all have been summoned to appear before the NIA, being investigated as being ‘anti-national’ and supporting terrorism.”
The statement said, “Our Khalsa Aid India team on the ground have also been summoned and are being questioned/investigated.”
The statement read, “There are genuine and legitimate concerns for the health and mental wellbeing of our Khalsa Aid team, along with interrogations which may not comply with international standards.”
Commenting upon the large-scale notices issued to various individuals representing different organizations, Khalsa Aid said, “A large-scale indiscriminate NIA investigation of this nature against voluntary agencies, groups and individuals who provide humanitarian support is unprecedented in Indian history.”
Khalsa Aid has urged all international bodies and monitoring agencies to hold India to account on what appears on the face of it a politically motivated step.
The Sikh Charity claimed that as an organisation they actively work to ensure transparency in their operations and work within guidelines and governance protocols of each country they work within.
Khalsa Aid said, “We are unable to provide any further details at this time until the matter is closed by the NIA. Our team will cooperate and answer any queries raised by the NIA team; we will endeavor to keep our supporters updated on this matter.”
