The Karnataka High Court dismissed a plea today challenging the Popular Front of India’s (PFI) ban. Nasir Pasha, the organization’s state president in Karnataka, filed the petition. The court had earlier reserved order on the petition, which questioned the five-year ban on PFI and its associates imposed by the Centre.
The petitioner’s advocate had contended that the Center had not provided sufficient evidence to support the ban.
The plea also argued that the Center’s decision, which restrains minorities’ fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution, was based on a number of crimes-related instances.
Following a number of nationwide raids, the Centre imposed the ban in September under the anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).
Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and the Islamic State, often known as ISIS, have all been linked to the organisation.
Additionally, it was claimed that the PFI was involved in a number of criminal and terrorism-related incidents. According to the Center, the PFI cadres were the subject of more than 1,400 criminal prosecutions, including some involving the murder of right-wing militants.
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According to the Union Home Ministry, the organisation has also been raising money from India and overseas through hawala and contributions. “With funds and ideological support from outside, it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country,” read the six-page ban order.
20 PFI members had joined ISIS
The order also claimed that more than 20 PFI members had joined ISIS, although it made no mention of names or any other information.
The PFI has been “pursuing a secret agenda to radicalise a particular section of the society”, said the ministry, adding that the outfit shows “sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority of the country”.
More than 300 PFI activists were taken into custody following nationwide operations by state police forces, Crime Branch, and the National Investigation Agency.
The BJP-ruled states welcomed the order. The “selective” nature of the ban was alleged by the opposition Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM.
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