The protesting farmers have refused to take back their tractor march on Republic Day and said that the inquiry by the National Investigation Agency is to break their big protest.
Forty people including farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa were summoned by the agency today, for interrogation in a case relating to the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice. Farmers have accused the government of resorting to atrocities.
The Central government is opposing the tractor rally legally, the Supreme Court will be hearing the matter tomorrow.
"Action is being taken against those who cooperate in the movement. We condemn the action the NIA is taking, we will fight against it legally, not only in the court. The government's attitude is oppressive," a farmer leader said.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a tweet called the NIA probe as an attempt to intimidate the farmers. He wrote on Twitter, "Strongly condemn Centre's attempts to intimidate farmer leaders & supporters of KisanAndolan by calling them for questioning by NIA & ED. They aren't anti-nationals. And after the failure of talks for the 9th time, it's absolutely clear that GOI is only trying to tire out farmers.”
The farmers said their rally will be peaceful and will not interrupt the Republic day's parade at Rajpath. About 1000 tractors will participate in the rally.
"We will not interrupt the parade on Republic Day," a farmer leader told the media, adding that a 50-km parade will take place in the Outer Ring Road, the road encircling the city.
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The farmer leaders added, "We hope the Delhi and Haryana Police will cooperate in this. This parade will be peaceful.”
The government has said in the Supreme Court that if the farmers take out tractor rally on Republic Day, it will be an "embarrassment to the nation".
The Supreme court has ordered a four-member panel to negotiate talks between the farmers and the Centre.