NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah is reported to have stepped up the move for strict measures after Popular Front of India activists took an active part in the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. When intelligence agencies reported that an attempt was being made to unleash violence in various states by covering up the protests, the Home Department tightened its stance.
The states of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat have recommended the Center to ban PFI. Then, with the help of various central agencies, with precise planning, the measures were coordinated including lightning speed raids in different states under the supervision of Amit Shah.
After the anti-CAA protests, Amit Shah had called regular meetings of NIA, ED and intelligence agencies to assess the situation. The national media reports that the agencies have started targeting leaders across the country after gathering concrete evidence, including PFI’s links to global terrorist organisations.
The notice to ban the organization was issued after lightning raids were carried out, including in Kerala, the stronghold of PFI, and the leaders were arrested en masse and jailed. The central notification stated that if PFI is not banned now, it will engage in more illegal activities that will subvert the country’s constitutional system.
The central government has declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and 8 affiliated organizations illegal for 5 years. The action is under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs states that if the Popular Front, which is linked to international terrorist organizations including IS, is not banned immediately, it will threaten national security and integrity and that an attempt to impose order based on terrorism in the country.
In 2010, when there was an outbreak of hand amputation in Kerala, there was a demand to ban the institution. But the central government has adopted the attitude that it is enough to proceed with the ban only after gathering strong evidence in anticipation of legal action.
English Summary: UP, Karnataka and Gujarat push for PFI ban, Amit Shah led the conflict
