Popular Front of India banned: RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy underscores 'difference' between RSS and PFI

New Delhi: Amid furore over the Popular Front of India ban, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue S Gurumurthy on Wednesday claimed that the RSS 'has a philosophy meanwhile PFI follows theology'. The Central 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. Following this, several opposition leaders have called for similar action against the RSS.

"Main difference is that RSS has a philosophy meanwhile PFI follows theology. The latter says that the other person is wrong whereas the philosophy says that the other one can also be right. Hinduism is a philosophy while Islam is a theology...the time has come for us to discuss the differences between the indic religions and the monotheistic ones," he opined in conversation with Times Now.

Apart from the PFI, eight associates - 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 -- were also placed in the list of the outlawed organisations today.

"'If at all it does (regroup), it will take next nearly 5-10 years. At least we'll have respite," Gurumurthy opined.

"As long as the courts are there and the actions taken under the law are compatible to the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, the fear is unjustified," he added.

The ban for alleged terror activities comes after the National Investigating Agency(NIA), the Enforcement Directorate(ED) and various state police forces carried out raids in a massive pan-India crackdown on the PFI twice in the recent days. A total of 106 leaders and activists of the PFI were arrested in 15 states on September 22 for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

Earlier on September 27, more than 170 people allegedly linked with the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states.