According to sources, the MHA is also taking legal advice before banning PFI, so that when the party concerned in this matter approaches court, the government remains ready with its move, reports Sanket Pathak…reports Asian Lite News
Days after the NIA and the ED raided several locations linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, the Union Home Ministry is planning to ban the extremist group on the basis of the evidences gathered by the investigating agencies, sources said.
However, before imposing the ban, the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) want to make full preparations, so that if the ban is challenged, then their side is not weakened.
In the raids conducted in 15 states of the country on September 22, the investigating agencies have found strong evidence of PFI’s involvement in terrorist activities, based on which, it can soon be banned.
Soon after the raid, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the NIA Chief. In this, instructions have been issued to review the facts gathered against PFI and take further action.
According to sources, the MHA is also taking legal advice before banning PFI, so that when the party concerned in this matter approaches court, the government remains ready with its move. This is also being done because the central government had to withdraw the ban on SIMI in 2008. However, later it was again banned after the Supreme Court order.
This time, the government donesn’t seem to be in a hurry and leave any stone unturned. And that’s why, it is making its case strong, besides weighing all the legal asepcts before imposing ban on PFI.
According to the information, different agencies were engaged in gathering strong evidence against PFI for many years as instructions were given by the MHA that no link of PFI should be left out. While the NIA’s investigation was focussed on the illegal activities of the criminal organisation, the ED has now been completely successful in tracing the source of their finances.
Barelvi Muslims call for ban on PFI
Meanwhile, the Barelvi Ulema has called for a ban on PFI for its alleged terror-related activities which prompted nationwide raids by NIA, ED and state police at premises linked to its leaders. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the president of All India Muslim Jamaat, issued a recorded statement in which he stressed that the raids have made it clear that the Islamist fundamentalist organization has been “involved in communal riots in various states across the country.”
“That’s why, I urge all Sunni, Sufi, and Barelvi Muslims to not keep any relation with this organisation,” he said.
The Barelvi sect from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly demanded the central government to impose an immediate ban on such organizations to protect the unity and integrity of the country. Maulana Barelvi also supported the action taken by the government to tighten the noose around terror activities across India.
“It is important to ban such organisations,” he said, adding that the actions taken by the government of India have his “full support.”
Muslim organisations appeal to youth
Meanwhile, the arrests of PFI leaders from across the country drew mixed reactions from several Muslim organisations, with many appealing to the youth from the community to remain patient on the action taken by the law enforcement agencies.
All India Tanjim Ulema-e-Islam, Kul Hind Markazi Imam Council and Muslim Students Organisation of India (MSO) have said in their statement that if the action has been taken to comply with the law and prevent terrorism, then everyone should be patient on it.
The organisations said the charges of murder, violence and possession of weapons against the arrested people are serious. However, these allegations have to be proved in court.
Keeping allegations of brainwashing the youth with Salafi Wahhabi ideology against PFI, they said Muslims should help the country in its pursuit of stability and peace.
The organisations added the PFI and organisations of Salafi Wahhabi ideology are basically brainwashing the youth which is not in the favour of Islam, the country and humanity.
These organisations said that they have faith in the judicial system, law and Constitution of the country, according to a tweet in Hindi by the MSO, an apex students and youths’ body of Muslims working on the promotion of Sufism and inclusive India. It is to be noted that All India Tanjim Ulema-e-Islam and MSO met the then home minister Rajnath Singh in 2018 and first demanded a ban on PFI.
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