Team News Riveting
New Delhi, September 28
The Centre has imposed a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates for involving in the terror activities.
The organisations that were also declared banned under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA include Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CF), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
In the notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Popular Front of India (PFI) and 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 Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association.”
“Whereas, the Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect, and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette,” it said.
The MHA said the PFI has been involved in several criminal and terror cases and shows sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority of the country and with funds and ideological support from outside.
The outfit has become a major threat to internal security of the country, as investigations in various cases have revealed that the PFI and its cadres have been repeatedly engaging in violent and subversive acts, it said adding that criminal violent acts carried out by PFI include “chopping off limb of a college professor, cold-blooded killings of persons associated with organisations espousing other faiths, obtaining explosives to target prominent people and places and destruction of public property”.
The development comes following two consecutive country-wide raids against the PFI by Central and state agencies. The raids were conducted in the states by local police forces including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Assam and Madhya Pradesh on September 27, as more than 170 people were arrested and on September 22 the NIA and the Enforcement Directorate in joint operations conducted raids in 15 states and arrested 106 leaders and activists of the PFI.
The Copy of Gazette Notification:
