Expressing their outrage over the ED raids on the offices and houses of Popular Front, members and supporters of the organization on Saturday took out massive rallies at various parts of the country. They demanded that the BJP-led central government must desist from using agencies against Popular Front to serve its political ends.
Hundreds of people including women and children joined the protest marches. At Kochi, Kerala, the march to the regional office of the Enforcement Directorate was stopped by police. In Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, the rally was stopped and protesters were arrested by police. People marched raising slogans against central government misuse of investigation agencies against political rivals, dissenters, and democratically and lawfully working organizations. According to reports, massive protests took place in hundreds of places in different states such as Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Manipur, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states.
Nationwide protests against RSS-motivated ED Raids by members & Supporters of the Popular Front of India.https://t.co/EUWHw0pVvv
Watch👆🏿 , Like, Comment & Share#EDCagedParrot #EDRaidsDissent
— Popular Front of India (@PFIOfficial) December 12, 2020
Courage is a trademark of Popular Front cadres…The more trouble Sanghis wish to cause the more committed we become..
Hum Dekhenge..Insha Allah.. https://t.co/igfwmItV3b
— Anis Ahmed (@AnisPFI) December 12, 2020
Leaders and speakers addressing the rallies condemned the Enforcement Directorate for acting as a ‘tool’ of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).
“Using these agencies, the central government is harassing social activists and organizations who question anti-people policies.”
They alleged that the PFI was already co-operating in all the enquiries and this ‘hooliganism’ in the name of a raid is completely planned by the RSS under the supervision of BJP government.
The organization is being targeted in this manner because it is organizing masses against anti-people and anti-constitutional moves of Modi govt like CAA and NRC, they added.
The speakers warned that the organization will neither be intimidated nor stopped by such repressive measures.
On December 3, the Enforcement Directorate had broken into Popular Front offices and the houses of leaders in the name of raids at various parts of the country.
Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
