India bans this radical Islamic outfit, know why?

September 28, 2022 By Awanish Kumar

(Image Credit Google)

Due to potential ties to terrorist organizations, the Indian government has banned the controversial Muslim group Popular Front of India (PFI) for five years. The ban, which was issued on Wednesday morning, coincides with a crackdown on the organization, as many of its officials have been detained following two raids on its headquarters last week in various states. The PFI, which rejects the accusations made against it, has recently organized nationwide demonstrations against the raids. PFI

About the ban

The government says it has banned the PFI and its associate groups for allegedly undertaking "unlawful activities" which are "prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country".

It has cited the group's alleged links with banned Islamist groups - the Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi) and the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) - as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"The 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," the federal home ministry said in a statement.

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

Why is PFI controversial?

The PFI states that its goal is to create an "egalitarian society where everyone enjoys freedom, justice, and a sense of security" in its mission statement on its website. Nevertheless, the government has filed a number of accusations against the organization and its members, including "sedition, inciting animosity among various social groups, and taking attempts to destabilize India." Following an assault on a college professor in Kerala in 2010, the PFI initially gained attention. He was attacked after being accused by numerous Muslim organizations of interrogating the Prophet Muhammad in a negative manner. Although the PFI disassociated itself from the defendants, a court found several of its members guilty of the assault. Members of the organization have also recently been implicated in the June beheading of a Hindu man in the western state of Rajasthan. A few months ago, Bihar state police said that the organization had disseminated a paper that called for turning India into an Islamic country. The PFI had refuted the claims, claiming that India 2047: Towards Rule of Islamic India was a forgery.