NEW DELHI: The Union government has declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an “unlawful association” with immediate effect for a period of five years. The PFI is often accused of being linked to radical Islam.
The government’s decision to declare PFI as an “unlawful association” comes after the second round of the crackdown against the PFI on Tuesday. More than 250 Popular Front of India (PFI) functionaries and people linked to it were rounded up Tuesday in sweeping police raids in several states against the outfit, currently being investigated by the NIA and the ED for its alleged terrorist activities and terrorism-linked funding.
“PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country,” said the government notification.
The notification said PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.
It further said some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations.
(With inputs from agencies)
The government’s decision to declare PFI as an “unlawful association” comes after the second round of the crackdown against the PFI on Tuesday. More than 250 Popular Front of India (PFI) functionaries and people linked to it were rounded up Tuesday in sweeping police raids in several states against the outfit, currently being investigated by the NIA and the ED for its alleged terrorist activities and terrorism-linked funding.
“PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country,” said the government notification.
The notification said PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.
It further said some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations.
(With inputs from agencies)
