Popular Front of India Banned: Why, and Who’s Next?

Popular Front of India Banned

KAKALI DAS

What have raids revealed on Popular Front of India and why is PFI banned for 5 years?

In order to understand this, a dive back in history is a must.

In our country, respect for Gandhi-ji is getting limited to textbooks; it may cease to exist altogether, as WhatsApp messages reveal what people truly think of him.

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The biggest misinformation related to Gandhi-ji is that his method of non-violence was passive and ineffective. There has been an ideology that strong can always be violent.

Many seem to believe that non-violence did no good then, and won’t do good now. Perhaps, that’s why the macho types win elections, and freedom, well, that was bheek (alms) to us by the Brits, wasn’t it?

The flop drama queen of Bollywood forgets that through non-violence, we repeatedly put the Brits on back-foot.

Because, by tolerating the tyranny of the British, we forced them to listen to us, slowly but surely. It’s true that thousands died and lakhs went to jail, few wrote mercy petition to the British administration.

Overall, people adopted the means of non-violence to attain freedom. There were no limits to the British tyranny, but Gandhi-ji gave three ways to deal with that – One, accept and make peace with it, or two, protest violently. Gandhi-ji initially preferred second to the first. The third and most difficult was ultimately chosen – non-violent protest.

PFI – Lessons Unlearnt Seems Popular Front of India leaders neither read nor understood Gandhiji.

The ways of PFI led to their downfall. Raids were conducted on PFI, and NIA took under arrest 109 members of PFI. Another crackdown on 27th September – 209 members of PFI were arrested across 7 states. PFI and 8 affiliate organizations like Campus Front of India, Rehab India Foundation etc. were stamped as unlawful associations under UAPA, and were banned for 5 years by Centre on September 28.

Is this vendetta politics or are their convincing proofs against PFI? Some are generic allegations against PFI which put it under radar – for example, radicalization and disturbing public order. UP, Karnataka and Gujarat wrote to Centre regarding the same.

Specific allegation of violence on PFI which, if proven in court will ban PFI for 50 years. Ministry of Home Affairs has found that some leaders of PFI have links to terror outfits like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, illegal fundamental organizations. Most serious allegation is their link with Islamic state, Iraq and ISIS, Syria.

MHA says PFI cadres have fought and died for ISIS, have killed RSS and BJP members in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.

On top of this are economic offences – no proper accounting of funds which are used for criminal activities. Hence, income tax dept. cancelled registration of PFI citing misuse of funds under Sec-12 A.

Besides, agencies claimed that they found incriminating evidence such as, bomb making manuals, weapons during raids. If all of this is proven in the court, then PFI leaders won’t make it out of jail.

As of now, immovable properties of PFI have been sealed, and Centre also ordered blocking of websites and social media of PFI. PFI members say that the system is trying to scare them away, that it is their democratic right to protest. But, was it a democratic protest?

PFI allege witch hunt as they were opposing government. After today’s ban, PFI may knock the doors of the court to reverse the decision – highly unlikely given the situation. There’s not much support for PFI.

Congress has welcomed the move on ban. All political parties are suspicious of PFI. Sufi and Barelvi clerics hailed the PFI ban by centre to stop fundamentalism. After PFI, who next?

Congress MP from Kerala K Suresh demanded banning of RSS too. According to him, any organization spreading communalism should be banned. After this, Lalu Prasad Yadav also demanded ban on RSS.

RSS, anyway was banned once before by Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Bajrang Dal and VHP were named religious militant outfits by CIA. After attack on Christian places of worship of Karnataka and Odisha, the then govt. mulled the decision to ban Bajrang dal.

PFI members arrested under UAPA; govt. should take the next steps immediately. Terror accused should face the courts. Other cases under UAPA – Bhima Koregaon and Umar Khalid await hearing.

Because, if the PFI planned to divide nation, if they were in cahoots with ISIS, then they must immediately face trial and be punished severely. Otherwise, international press will cover negative reports which govt. won’t approve of.

Conclusion

The moral of the story is clear that opposition by any group should be non-violent, as advocated by Gandhiji.

Because, violence solves nothing; violence signifies medieval mind-set. It is no political evolution, so majority or minority should give up fundamentalist attitude.

What will be interesting to see now are the proceedings of the court, and if govt. bans other fundamentalist organizations too.

[Images from different sources]

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