Big decision: India bans PFI for five years

Mumbai: In a week’s span, the second round of massive raids conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on PFI had seen several detentions and arrests across the states. It was a multi-agency probe with the help of state police, office bearers of PFI and SDPI were under the lens of the central government over alleged terror funding.

The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set-up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the country.

Therefore, the Ministry of Home Affairs found it necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization and has hence declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with 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” under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Amit Malviya, BJP In-charge of Information and Technology dept, tweeted

"Apart from PFI, Govt has also banned:

- All India Imams Council

- Campus Front of India

- Rehab India Foundation

- National Conf of Human Rights Org

- National Women’s Front

- Junior Front

- Empower India Foundation

- Rehab Foundation, Kerala

Opposition has so much to weep for."

In a statement released by SDPI, after their ban by the government, they said, “whoever spoke against the wrong and anti-people policies of the BJP regime have faced the threats of arrests and raids from them. Freedom of speech, protests, and organisations have been ruthlessly suppressed by the regime against the basic principles of the Indian constitution. The regime is misusing the investigation agencies and laws to silence the opposition and to scare the people from expressing the voice of dissent.”