PFI ban Archives - Lokmarg - News Views Blogs

Wasim Rain, UP President, All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, says the Popular Front of India was a threat to the sovereignty of nation. His views:

The Union Government’s decision to ban the Popular Front of India and its ancillary organizations is a long-awaited one. The message is loud and clear: Anti-national forces will be dealt with strictly. All peace-loving and patriotic citizens welcome the ban and believe it will send a strong message to those nefarious minds who dream of destroying the secular fabric and spirit of this country.

The ambit of the action (on the sister organisations of the PFI) also reflects that it is not a cosmetic step but taken in right earnest. It is well known fact among Muslim leaders that the PFI has been propagating anti-national sentiments, funding largescale protests to create anarchy, and radicalizing a particular section of our society. Of late, their actions had become blatant, as they thought being a minority group, there will no action taken against it.

From emerging media reports, it is evident that the PFI had been collecting funds illegally and was involved in recent anti-national activities (riots and killings). Now their cover as an alleged social organization is blown. The evidence (collected by the agencies) makes it clear that it was involved in disturbing the social and communal harmony of India.

Now, similar action is also anticipated against those organizations that claim to be working for the country under a similar disguise. The government should continue to scrutinise similar dubious groups which have been trying to radicalise and polarise society, with an anti-India agenda. Such organizations are using social media and other platform to mislead the young generation and trying to fan hatred in the country.

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We have seen videos at the PFI-sponsored protests where young children were raising contemptuous slogans against other communities. Such acts are not only anti-national but also anti-Islamic. All communities should reject the communal ideologies of such outfits.

The ban also exposed several groups which had taken oath to guard the Constitution but are now opposing the ban. One of them, a Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh has even threatened a nationwide outrage. I would not like to name him. Even a barrister from south India shed crocodile tears, although he distanced himself from PFI. Many so-called `Islamic scholars’ who earlier defended PFI acts on TV channels have suddenly turned into traumatised puppies, with their tails firmly between their hind legs.

I would like to congratulate the Union government for doing its homework in advance and for conducting raids under a unified action, with lawful cooperation from state police. Such professionalism is unprecedented in such a nationwide raids. That is why there were little protest or `outrage’ over the arrests.

As told to Rajat Rai

The Madhya Pradesh Police have detained 30 people from 8 districts of the state for alleged links with the banned PFI (Popular Front India), Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narrotam Mishra said.

“Following the arrest of 1 person from Ujjain and 3 from Indore last week we have detained 30 people across 8 districts of the state in connection with PFI links. Their laptops and mobile phones have been seized and further investigation is going on,” Mishra told ANI.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Central government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI), its associates, and affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the announcement through a notification issued late on Tuesday night, declaring “the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect”.

Along with PFI, the ban is also imposed on its 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 as an “unlawful association”.

The notification clearly mentioned that the ban has been imposed against PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or 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 as an ‘unlawful association’,” reads the notification.

“The Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the UAPA have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Office.” The Centre issued the ban citing the investigation of its agencies, mentioning “the investigations have established clear linkages between PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts”.

It is also accused that “some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations”. “There had been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase radicalization of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations.”

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 the internal security of the country”, mentioned the notification.

The notification noted that “Rehab India Foundation collects funds through PFI members and some of the members of the PFI are also members of Campus Front of India. Empower India Foundation, Rehab Foundation, Kerala, and the activities of Junior Front. All India Imams Council, National Commission of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) and National Women’s Front are monitored and coordinated by the PFI leaders”.

It is accused that “the PFI has created the associates or affiliates or fronts with the objective of enhancing its reach among different sections of the society such as youth, students, women, Imams, lawyers or weaker sections of the society with the sole objective of expanding its membership, influence and fundraising capacity”.

The PFI cadres are also accused of their involvement in several terrorist acts and the murder of several persons, including Sanjith (Kerala, November 2021), V-Ramalingam (Tamil Nadu, 2019), Nandu (Kerala, 2021), Abhimanyu (Kerala, 2018), Bibin (Kerala, 2017), Sharath (Kamataka, 2017), R.Rudresh (Kamataka, 2016), Praveen Puyari (Karnataka, 2016), Sasi Kumar (Tamil Nadu, 2016) and Praveen Nettaru (Kamataka 2022).

The notification mentions that the criminal activities and brutal murders have been carried out by PFI cadres with the sole objective of “disturbing public peace and tranquillity and creating a reign of terror in the public mind”.

It also mentioned that there had been a number of instances of “international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups and some activists of the PFI have joined Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and participated in terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some of these PFI cadres linked to ISIS have been killed in these conflict theatres and some have been arrested by State Police and Central Agencies also the PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a proscribed terrorist organization”.

“The Office bearers and cadres of the PFI along with others are conspiring and raising funds from within India and abroad through the banking channels. and the hawala, donations, etc. as part of a well-crafted criminal conspiracy. and then want to transfer, layering and integrate these funds through multiple accounts to project them as legitimate and eventually use these funds to carry out various criminal, unlawful and terrorist activities in India.

“The sources of deposits on behalf of PFI with respect to its several bank accounts were not supported by the financial profiles of the account holders and the activities of PFI were not being carried out as per their declared objectives and therefore, the Income Tax Department cancelled the registration granted to PFI under section 12A or 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).

The Income Tax Department also cancelled the registration granted to Rehab India Foundation under section 12A or section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961,” reads the notification.

The State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat have recommended banning PFI, it also said. (ANI)

Tag: PFI ban

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