PFI ban: Organisation accepts Centre's decision, says outfit's Kerala General Secretary | Highlights

"All PFI members & public are informed that the Popular Front of India (PFI) has been dissolved. MHA has issued a notification banning PFI. As law-abiding citizens of our great country, the organization accepts the decision," says Kerala State General Secretary of PFI Abdul Sattar

"All PFI members & public are informed that the Popular Front of India (PFI) has been dissolved. MHA has issued a notification banning PFI. As law-abiding citizens of our great country,the organization accepts the decision," Kerala State General Secretary of PFI Abdul Sattar said.

The BJP praised it as a "strong and timely" action and attacked the opposition parties, particularly the Congress, saying it is unfortunate that some are looking at their political profit and loss even in this.

All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz welcomes the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) imposed by the Government of India.

Professor TJ Joseph, whose hand was chopped off by the activists of Popular Front of India for alleged blasphemy 12 years ago, on Wednesday declined to respond to the Centre's ban on the radical Islamic outfit, saying observing silence was better at times than always talking.

Asked for his reaction by the media, a visibly calm and composed professor said he, as a citizen of the country, has a clear opinion about the union government's move, but he does not want to respond now as he was a "victim" in the case.

The banning of PFI was a political decision and something related to national security and let the political leaders, organizational representatives and other such neutral people respond to the development, he said.

With the Centre banning the Popular Front of India for its alleged terror activities, its political offshoot Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) strongly condemned the ban saying this was part of the "undeclared emergency" clamped by the BJP-led Union government in the country.

The Union government on Wednesday banned the PFI and several of its associates for five years under a stringent anti-terror law, accusing them of having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS.

Besides PFI, the organisations which were also declared banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) include Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday welcomed the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), saying in "new India", those posing a threat to the country's national unity and integrity are not acceptable. 

In a tweet in Hindi, the chief minister said, "The ban imposed on Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliated organisations indulging in anti-national activities is commendable and welcome." "This is new India where terrorists, criminals and individuals who pose threat to the unity and integrity of the nation and the security are not acceptable," he said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said there was enough evidence to prove that the Popular Front of India, banned by the Centre for five years, was sowing seeds of violence in society. 

The aim of the organisation was to spread rumours and trigger violence, Fadnavis, who holds charge of the Home department, told reporters here.
The central government on Wednesday banned PFI, alleged to be involved in several violent and terror incidents and having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS, along with its several associates for five years.

"There is enough evidence with the government and probe agencies that the PFI was sowing seeds of violence. Spreading rumours, raising funds and triggering violence was their aim,” Fadnavis said.

The Congress on Wednesday said it is against all ideologies and institutions that abuse religion to polarise the society and misuse it to spread hate, bigotry and violence. All India Congress Committee general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said his party is against all forms of communalism. His statement came a day after the Central government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates for their alleged terror activities. Ramesh said, "The Congress has always been and will continue to be against all forms and types of communalism – majority or minority makes no difference." "The Congress' policy has always been to uncompromisingly fight all ideologies and institutions that abuse religion to polarise our society, that misuse religion to spread prejudice, hate, bigotry and violence," he said in a statement.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday welcomed the Union government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India, which has allegedly been involved in a series of violence, and said it has come to light that the organisation was planning "something serious" in the state.

The organisation members had also tried to disturb peace in Pune, but swift police action foiled their bid, Shinde told reporters in Nashik and thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the step to ban PFI and its several associates for five years.

The opposition Congress in Kerala and its coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Wednesday welcomed the Centre's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities, but said that the RSS should also be similarly outlawed.

Strongly condemning the activities of the PFI, senior IUML leader M K Muneer said the radical outfit had misinterpreted the Quran and persuaded the community members to adopt the path of violence.
The PFI not only tried to mislead the young generation but also tried to create division and hatred in the society, he said in Kozhikode.

"All Islamic scholars in the state have strongly condemned the extremist ideologies. But, outfits like PFI have made even tiny children raise contemptuous slogans. Which Islam has persuaded them to do so?" the legislator asked.

The government on Wednesday banned PFI and related groups for five years. The move comes after back-to-back raids across the length and breadth of the country, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the NIA on Thursday led to the arrest of over 200 PFI activists from accross 11 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.  Read More. 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Centre’s decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for their alleged terror activities and said the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “bold and decisive”. The union home ministry, in a notification on Tuesday night, banned the PFI and several of its associate organisations. "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,” the chief minister wrote on Twitter. "India of Modi Era is decisive and bold,” he added. Sarma had earlier said that his government was consistently asking the Centre to outlaw the organisation for allegedly creating an eco-system for terror activities.

The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Wednesday welcomed the Central government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities.

The Deewan of the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti said the action was taken in compliance with the law and to prevent terrorism. It should be welcomed by all, he said.

"If the country is safe then we are safe, the country is bigger than any institution or idea and if someone talks about breaking this country, breaking the unity and sovereignty here, talks about spoiling the peace of the country, then he has no right to live here," Khan told PTI.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has welcomed the decision of the Central Government to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) which tries to disrupt the integrity, sovereignty and law and order of the country. The Chief Minister has thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for this decision.

The investigation conducted by the investigating agencies has found that the PFI and its affiliated organizations are involved in serious crimes. The organization was active in terrorist activities and financing, horrific killings, contempt of the constitutional system of the country, disruption of public order, disruption of the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country. It has been learned that this organization is also in conspiracy to carry out the incident in Maharashtra.

In cities like Pune of Maharashtra, attempts were made to spoil the atmosphere by opposing the action against them. But the police foiled him in time. Chief Minister Shri. Shinde once again welcomed the ban on PFI.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday welcomed the Union government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities, and said the move sends a message to all "anti-national groups" that they will not survive in this country.

He said all that is necessary would be done to stop PFI's activities in the state.
"For a long time, it has been a demand by the people of this country, by all political parties including the opposition CPI, CPI(M) and the Congress. PFI is the avatar (incarnation) of SIMI (banned Students' Islamic Movement of India), and KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity). They were involved in anti-national activities and violence," Bommai said.

The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Wednesday welcomed the Central government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities. The Deewan of the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti said the action was taken in compliance with the law and to prevent terrorism. It should be welcomed by all, he said.

"If the country is safe then we are safe, the country is bigger than any institution or idea and if someone talks about breaking this country, breaking the unity and sovereignty here, talks about spoiling the peace of the country, then he has no right to live here," Khan told PTI.

Eight other outfits have been banned 

1. All India Imams Council
2. Campus Front of India
3. Rehab India Foundation
4. National Conf of Human Rights Org
5. National Women’s Front
6. Junior Front
7. Empower India Foundation
8. Rehab Foundation, Kerala

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in an order, banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) for a period of five years, declaring the outfit and all its associates, affiliates and fronts as Unlawful Association under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is (UAPA).

Following are the reasons mentioned in the MHA order for banning PFI:

>>The investigations have established clear linkages between PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts.

>>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 Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) and National Women’s Front are monitored/coordinated by the PFI leaders.

>>The PFI has created the above mentioned associates or affiliates or fronts with 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 fund raising capacity.

>>The above associates or affiliates or fronts have a ‘Hub and Spoke’ relationship with the PFI acting as the Hub and utilizing the mass outreach and fund raising capacity of its associates or affiliates or fronts for strengthening its capability for unlawful activities and these associates or affiliates or fronts function as ‘roots and capillaries’ through which the PFI is fed and strengthened.

>>The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize 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.

>>The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been 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.

 Maharashtra Police have arrested 32 activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) after raids in Mumbai and various districts of the state, officials said on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that the crackdown on PFI was as per law based on the investigation into their activities and evidence. "Attempts were being made to create a division in society and weaken the country. This was being done systematically," said Fadnavis, who heads the Home department.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) detained 17 people for their alleged links with the Popular Front of India (PFI), an official said on Tuesday. The ATS clarified that raids in Gujarat were conducted solely by it and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was not involved as earlier believed. The ATS picked up 17 persons from Ahmedabad, Surat, Navsari and Banaskantha districts for questioning, the senior ATS official said.

The Central Government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years." PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize 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," said the government notification.