The Central government on Wednesday banned the Muslim group Popular Front of India (PFI), its associates, and affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for a period of five years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced late on Tuesday night, declaring “the 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 with immediate effect”.
The ban has been imposed against PFI and its associates or affiliates for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing communal harmony and supporting militancy, the notification said.
The centre also accused that “some of the PFI’s founding members have linkages with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Global Terrorist Groups the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)”.
The organizations are also charged with operating “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 constitution”.
However, many civil rights organisations have questioned the centre’s allegations against the group.
The All Indian Lawyers’ Association for Justice (AILAJ) has alleged that the NIA and ED raids on the Popular Front of India (PFI), is a case government weaponising investigative agencies. The lawyer’s association also alleged that the allegations against the PFI are “bare, having no reference to any actual incident or crime”.
The ban comes after two rounds of raids by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), who raided PFI’s offices and members’ residences across the country for allegedly supporting terror activities on 22 September and on 27 September.
As many as 250 people linked to the PFI have been taken into custody so far.
