In a major crackdown against 'threat to national security', the Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday banned the controversial Popular Front of India (PFI) in its latest notification. PFI ban came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made its massive pan-India raid and nabbed over 300 activists linked to the organisation. NIA's crackdown on PFI sparked a massive row against the Government of India, however, the investigative agency conducted another raid across India. Finally, on Wednesday, PFI was banned by the MHA for 5 years by declaring it an unlawful association with immediate effect under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Now, the PFI ban reason has been one of the most burning questions going on in people's minds as they are wondering why the organisation was taken down by the Government of India. So, here's a PFI ban explainer in 5 points-
PFI Ban Reason Explained in 5 points
1) MHA in its notification stated that the PFI which was launched in Kerala in 2006 was indulging in unlawful activities which threatened the security of the country and could disturb communal harmony and peace. In addition, it stated that PFI was supportive of militancy in the country.
2) Furthermore, the PFI’s founding members were leaders of the banned terrorist organization Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and are linked to Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), as per the MHA notification.
3) Not only this, but the MHA also stated that the PFI was linked with global terrorist outfits such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) adding that it promotes radicalization and a sense of insecurity in the country.
4) "PFI and its associates 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 showing sheer disrespect towards the constitutional setup of the country," says the MHA notification
Centre bans PFI, associates for 5 yrs
5) "They have been working covertly to increase radicalisation of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organizations," another point in the MHA notification said.
Read Full PFI Ban Reason given by MHA
Central Government declares the #PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect, for a period of five years. pic.twitter.com/hff3AOfn2i
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 28, 2022
'PFI was planning to divide Hindus to topple Modi government'
Apart from the aforementioned reasons cited by the MHA, sources in the known developments have pointed out that PFI was working to divide the Hindus in order to topple the BJP government. As per sources, the PFI was inducing feelings of inequality among the Dalits, SCs, and OBCs against the upper castes so that the division of votes of Hindus took place ultimately leading to the fall of the Narendra Modi government. The BJP's historic victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections had sent warning signals to the 'now banned' PFI outfit as it has started its operation to radicalise or at least create a feeling of injustice by the government towards the lower section of the Hindu community.