The Centre declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) an "unlawful association" for five years on Wednesday following massive raids against the organisation and the arrest of hundreds of its associates in the past few days. The action was taken under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Thank you for joining our coverage of the mega crackdown on PFI. We will now wrap the blog. Good night, folks!
Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Wednesday hailed the Centre for imposing a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and condemned those opposing the move, describing them as "anti India". He also lashed out at the opposition leaders seeking a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as well, describing them as "mentally challenged".
The Goa police on Wednesday arrested 29 members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in the state after the central government imposed a ban on the organisation, an official said. These members were produced in a court, which ordered their release on personal bonds, he said.
Security was tightened in the city on Wednesday with the deployment of additional forces, following the ban imposed on the radical islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). The union government today banned the PFI and its associates for five years, accusing them of having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS. Six Superintendents of Police are monitoring the security arrangements in sensitive areas here coming under six police station limits, police said.
Action must be taken against any outfit indulging in illegal activities and spreading hatred, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Wednesday in a guarded response to the Centre's ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI). The Arvind Kejriwalled party put the onus of proof on the law enforcement and probe agencies which carried out a nationwide crackdown on the outfit and arrested over 150 people associated with it.
The Popular Front of India (PFI) had tried to instigate a particular community following the violence during a Ram Navami procession in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone earlier this year, and collected around Rs 55 lakh in the name of helping the riot-affected people, a senior police official said. The central government on Wednesday banned the PFI and several of its associates for five years under a stringent antiterror law, accusing them of having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS.
After a five-year ban on the PFI and its affiliates, the home ministry has asked the police in states and Union Territories to take action against its other offices and seize funds. PFI members will now have to declare their dissociation from the organisation.
If they continue, they will face a two-year jail term and fine, senior government officials were quoted by News 18 as saying.
Professor TJ Joseph, whose hand was chopped off by the activists of PFI leader 12 years ago for alleged blasphemy, declined to respond to the Centre’s ban on the radical Islamic outfit. He said observing silence was better at times than always talking.
“So I am not reacting. Many of the victims of the PFI’s attacks are no longer alive. I would like to observe silence in solidarity with those victims,” he was quoted by News 18 as saying.
Joseph is a former lecturer of Malayalam literature at Newman College in Thodupuzha. His right hand was chopped off allegedly by activists of the PFI in July 2010 while he, along with his mother and sister, was returning home from church.
The central government has ordered blocking websites and social media accounts of the PFI and its affiliates after banning the outfit under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) late on Tuesday, News 18 reported.
Asaduddin Owaisi says: "While I have always opposed PFI's approach and supported democratic approach, this ban on PFI cannot be supported".
Sharing an article, he noted that "actions of some individuals who commit crime does not mean that the organisation itself must be banned. SC has also held that mere association with an organisation is not enough to convict someone." But a draconian ban of this kind is dangerous as it is a ban on any Muslim who wishes to speak his mind, he said.
He added, "We should remember that Congress amended UAPA to make it stringent & when BJP amended the law to make it even more draconian, Congress supported it."
How come PFI is banned but organisations associated with convicts of Khaja Ajmeri bomb blasts aren’t? Why has govt not banned right wing majoritarian organisations?
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 28, 2022
#WATCH | Alappuzha, Kerala: PFI state general Abdul Sathar detained by police pic.twitter.com/hq4CfXuu4v
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Rafiqul Islam told ANI that over 100 PFI members were arrested in the last few days. "I'm not supporting the PFI but the government should've waited for probe before taking decision of banning PFI for five years. The goverbment should ask central agencies to also probe Bajrang Dal, RSS, VHP who spread hate speech," he said.
(Credits: ANI)RJD chief Lalu Prasad said that the "PFI is being investigated. All organisations like PFI including RSS should be banned and an investigation should be done." Earlier, a Congress leader had demanded the same.
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh issues a statement on the PFI ban. The statement read: "The Congress has always been and will continue to be against ALL forms and types of communalism -- majority, minority makes no difference."
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh issues a statement - "Congress has always been and will continue to be against ALL forms and types of communalism--majority, minority makes no difference."
Central Government banned #PFI for 5 years today. pic.twitter.com/w5RE3Nw39X— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
Delhi | Security tightened around the #PFI office in the Shaheen Bagh area after the Central govt declared PFI & its associates unlawful for 5 years today pic.twitter.com/Q5Ud2wKwG3
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
Let there be fair probe & agencies should come out with details of what illegalities were being committed by an organisation whose youth are being arrested in large numbers.We will not support any anti social acts by any organisation if NIA convincingly proves their involvement. pic.twitter.com/vL2xuYJCI6
— Imtiaz Jaleel (@imtiaz_jaleel) September 27, 2022
Kerala | We demand for RSS also to get banned. #PFIban is not a remedy, RSS is also spreading Hindu communalism throughout the country. Both RSS & PFI are equal, so govt should ban both. Why only PFI?: Kodikunnil Suresh, Congress MP & Lok Sabha Chief Whip, in Malappuram pic.twitter.com/nzCVTImWw4
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
According to press release, the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates were "found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country".
Tamil Nadu | Police personnel deployed outside PFI district office in Coimbatore as Central govt today declared #PFI & its associates unlawful for 5 years pic.twitter.com/BIkeiYqkjK
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
I welcome the ban on (Popular Front of India) PFI by the Government of India.
The Government is firm in its resolve to ensure that anyone with a diabolical, divisive or disruptive design against India shall be dealt with iron fist.India of Modi Era is Decisive & Bold.— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 28, 2022
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, "This is New India where terrorists, criminals and organisations and individuals, who pose a threat to the unity, integrity and security of the nation are not acceptable.
Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai told ANI: "It was a long-time demand by the people of this country, by all political parties, including the Opposition like CPI, CPM & Congress. PFI was involved in anti-national activities, violence. They had their command outside the country... This is a message for all anti-national groups. I urge people not to associate with such organisations."
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the PFI doesn't have any right to raise slogans of "Pakistan Zindabad" in the country. The Home Ministry will take action on that. The central government has already taken the right decision. It's a country of patriots," he said.
#WATCH | PFI which raises 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans doesn't have any right to raise such slogans in the country. Home Ministry will take action on that. Central govt has taken the right decision. It's a country of patriots: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on #PFIban pic.twitter.com/itp95p6ikl
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
What MHA said in official order
In an official order, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, "The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect."
"Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette," the order states, as per News 18.
Strong & timely action by Central Government, MHA that has banned the #PFI for a period of five years.
But we have seen in the past how Congress, SP, RJD, Left , etc have given political patronage to terror in name of votebankHow Congress allowed PFI free run in Rajasthan 1/n pic.twitter.com/Hn3zv9bImo— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) September 28, 2022
The PFI fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala, were also declared as "unlawful associations", the MHA said in a statement.
The ministry also said that the PFI is involved in several criminal and terror cases and "shows sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority of the country and with funds and ideological support from outside it has become a major threat to internal security of the country"
It further said that the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organisation but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalise a particular section of the society, working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country.
'Criminal violent acts carried out by PFI'
The PFI's name cropped up in several controversies, including Karnataka’s hijab case, the Hathras rape and murder, and the Citizenship Act Amendment protests.
Recently, PFI grabbed headlines when the central agency launched probe into the suspected terror module allegedly linked to the organisation in connection with the Phulwari Sharif case.
Citing a few incidents, the ministry nmoted: “Criminal violent acts carried out by PFI include chopping off limb of a college professor, cold blooded killings of persons associated with organisations espousing other faiths, obtaining explosives to target prominent people and places and destruction of public property."
Mega crackdown on PFI
The ban on the PFI comes after two mega rounds of raids against the outfit for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. The raids were conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and state police.
The first round -- the "largest-ever investigation" -- was carried out on September 22 that led to the arrest of 106 PFI members. Later on Tuesday this week, police conducted raids across several states, arresting around 250 PFI members, according to reports.
The states where the raids were conducted included Andhra Pradesh (4 places), Telangana (1), Delhi (19), Kerala (11), Karnataka (8), Tamil Nadu (3), Uttar Pradesh (1), Rajasthan (2), Hyderabad (5), Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur, news agency ANI reported.
Meanwhile, PFI issued a statement on Tuesday terming the NIA and the ED two “servile tools” in the hands of the government.
First Published: Sept 28, 2022 7:55 AM IST
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Punjab Lok Sabha elections: Check full list of AAP candidates and constituencies
May 18, 2024 12:59 PM
PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi election rallies in Delhi today: Here are the routes to avoid
May 18, 2024 11:28 AM