New Delhi: The Popular Front of India (PFI), the controversial Islamic outfit in the eye of storm over fanning violence during Ram Navami procession may be prohibited soon, sources with the knowhow of developments said.
The radical outfit may soon be banned from operation. Reports suggest that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), after deliberations, has decided to penalise it for fanning communal fire as its direct or indirect association to riots has been established at many occasions. Reports say that the MHA may bring a notification to ban it across the country, in as early as a week’s time.
From Delhi riots to anti-CAA protests to Ram Navami procession violence, the outfit is understood to have abetted violence either by funding or by direct involvement of its men.
The outfit’s role was clearly established in Delhi riots as videos of PFI men handing over cash to perpetrators went viral. In recent Karauli (Rajasthan) and Khargone (MP), the radical outfit is believed to have hatched a pre-meditated conspiracy to incite violence during the Ram Navami procession. Videos of PFI men brandishing swords in Khargone, ahead of violence, lent credence to theory. Probe is underway in both the matters.
The PFI is already banned in several states. If government brings a central notification, it will cease to exist & its offices will close down.
Clamour for PFI ban started in 2010
The clamour for PFI ban is not new. The call for ban started in 2010, when the Intelligence Bureau (IB) created a dossier in 2010, which found that the group was collaborating with the banned Islamist terrorist Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Several right wing members claimed that the PFI was nothing but a re-grouping of banned SIMI operatives.
In 2017 again, impetus for banning PFI began, based on National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s findings that the Islamic group was linked with terror-related incidents. In its dossier, NIA found damning proof of PFI & its political wing SDPI’s involvement in Bangalore blast case, Kerala professor palm-chopping case & Kerala love jihad & other cases.
