The Indian government has banned the Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Under the Act, PFI has been declared a “terrorist” organization. Subsequently, Indian security forces arrested hundreds of PFI leaders and activists.
Allegations against PFI
PFI recently gained popularity in 2020. It participated in and organized protests against the twin laws of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Indian government had brought the two discriminatory laws to disempower and marginalize Muslims.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) alleged that the organization was radicalizing the youth. It also alleged that PFI organized suspected terror camps where it trained youth in using swords. Further, MHA has also alleged that PFI activists were behind the killing of leaders associated with Hindu extremist organizations. There is also an allegation of foreign connections with terror organizations like ISIS. The MHA alleges that the goal of PFI is to convert India into an Islamic state.
At the time of the ban, law enforcement agencies had lodged a total of some 1300 criminal cases against PFI across India.
The government asserted that the ban on PFI was necessary because the organization possesses a threat to the security, sovereignty, and integrity of the country. Further,it has also alleged that PFI has been trying to undermine the constitutional authority and the constitutional set-up f the country.
Also Read: India Revives Controversial Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir
PFI’s Activities
PFI was established in 2006. Its headquarters are in Delhi. The organization is most active in the states of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh and has a presence in some 17 states of India. The organization contends that it works toward socio-economic, cultural political empowerment of the deprived.
Even though PFI’s main goal, as declared by the organization, is the empowerment of Muslims, the condition of Muslims in India has forced it to get into politics. It has organized several protests rightfully claiming its constitutional right.
The government has accused the organization of exploiting the division in society and radicalising Muslims.
However, the organization is not the one that started or invented the exploitation of the social cleavages or the disturbance of communal harmony in the country. PFI claims that its activities are just a reaction to the divisive program followed by the Hindu extremist organizations.
In 2010, PFI had come to the spotlight after chopping off the hand of T J Joseph, a professor from Kerala. PFI had accused the professor of blasphemy over a question he had asked on an exam paper.
Further, in July 2014, PFI started “I am Gaza” campaign with nationwide solidarity in favour of Palestinians.
Also Read: Political Activities Resume in Kashmir after Three Years
Opposition Reaction to the Ban
Several leaders belonging to the opposition parties called out the ban on PFI. Bihar’s former Chief Minister Lalu Yadav was aggressive on the ban. “The PFI is being investigated. All organisations like the PFI including the RSS… All of them should be banned,” tweeted Lalu. “They keep raising the bogey of PFI. It is the RSS, which is all about Hindu extremism (‘kattarpanth’), that deserves to be banned first,” he added. He also mentioned that India had banned the RSS twice since the independence of India.
Also Read: India Revives Controversial Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir
Denying Right to Association
The BJP-led Indian government is leaving no stone unturned to marginalize and disempower Muslims. Ban on PFI is an attempt to deny Muslims their right to association. The organization had an important role in anti-CAA NRC protests. It showcased how it uses rights enshrined in the constitution to challenge the government’s discriminatory laws.
Even though some tactics of the organization may have been extreme but there are other organizations also that are more extreme than the PFI. The government openly supports these organizations and in fact, draws leaders from these organizations. When met with an organization that has a similar modus operandi but belongs to the “other”, the government fearing them bans them.
The ban on Kashmiri organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) recently was a harbinger for the Muslims of India. Further, it seems Kashmir was a laboratory for the Indian government to test how it can disempower and marginalize Indian Muslims. Kashmir is “borderland” with “contested identities” where “emergency” is perpetual. However, the current ruling government has extended those emergency measures to all Indian Muslims.
Also Read: Police Attach Properties in Kashmir for Harbouring Militants
Indian Muslims in Dilemma
Indian Muslims are yet to figure out how to react to the changes. There are intellectuals who want dialogue with Hindu extremists like RSS. Others like PFI are for extreme measures. However, a larger section of Muslims in India does not support these two ideas. They do not know how to react to the changing circumstances under the BJP-led government. A somewhat secular past of the Congress rule is a distant dream now. Muslims will have to figure out ways to make peace with the hostile Hindutva government.
