The National Investigation Agency has raided the locations of Popular Front of India in 11 states including Delhi. In such a situation, let us know what is PFI and what is its work.
Image Credit source: Tv9 Hindi
Popular Front of India ie PFI is once again in discussion. This time the reason is NIA raids. Actually, the National Investigation Agency has done this in 11 states including Delhi. PFI Raids have been conducted on the places of. During this, more than 100 people have also been arrested. The thing to note here is that this operation done by NIA is being told as the biggest operation till date. According to news agency PTI, these raids have been done due to the involvement of PFI in terror funding, organizing training camps and making people extremists.
The NIA has conducted raids in different parts of the state including 10 locations in Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru. It also includes the house of PFI state president Nazir Pasha. At the same time, regarding the raid, PFI said, ‘We strongly oppose the steps taken by the fascist regime to use agencies to silence the voices of protest. The PFI statement confirmed that the houses of its national, state and local leaders were being raided. In such a situation, let us know what is PFI and what is its work.
When was the Popular Front of India established?
The PFI was established in 2007 through the merger of three Muslim organizations in South India, the National Democratic Front in Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neeti Pasarai in Tamil Nadu. In fact, a meeting was held in Kozhikode, Kerala in November 2006, where it was decided to bring the three organizations together. The formal announcement of the formation of the PFI was made on 16 February 2007 during the ‘Empower India Conference’ at a rally in Bengaluru.
What is the job of PFI?
The PFI, which emerged after the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), has projected itself as an organization that fights for the rights of minorities, Dalits and marginalized communities. It has frequently targeted these parties for alleged anti-people policies of the Congress, BJP and JDS in Karnataka. The point to be noted here is that these mainstream parties accuse each other of colluding with the PFI to gain the support of Muslims at the time of elections.
PFI itself has never contested elections. However, the way in which the work is done among the Hindu community by right wing groups like RSS, VHP and Hindu Jagran Vedic. In the same way, PFI has also been doing social and Islamic religious works among Muslims. PFI does not keep records of its members and that is why it becomes difficult for law enforcement agencies to stop crimes even after arresting people associated with this organization.
What is SDPI derived from PFI?
In 2009, a political organization named Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) emerged out of PFI as a new organization with the aim of raising political issues of Muslims, Dalits and other marginalized communities. SDPI says that its objective is the progress and equal development of all citizens including Muslims, Dalits, Backward Classes and Tribals. In addition, it also intends to share power fairly among all citizens. It is worth noting here that PFI also works to provide grassroots workers for the political activities of SDPI.
When did PFI become ‘doubt’?
- 2017 (accused of love jihad): Keeping in mind the controversial Hadiya case in 2017, the NIA claimed that the PFI had done the work of converting to Islam. However, in 2018, the investigating agency admitted that there was no coercion to convert.
- 2019 (Easter bombings in Sri Lanka): NIA raided several offices of PFI in May 2019. The investigating agency believed that the links of the mastermind of the Easter bombings are linked to the PFI. More than 250 people died in this bomb blast.
- 2019 (Mangaluru Violence): Mangaluru police claimed that during the CAA-NRC demonstrations in December, members of PFI and SDPI instigated violence, in which two people died. Altogether more than 21 members of PFI and SDPI were arrested.
- 2020 (Delhi Riots): The Special Cell of Delhi Police alleged that the PFI provided financial and logistical help to the rioters. Police claimed that JNU scholar Umar Khalid was constantly in touch with PFI members.
- 2020 (Hathras rape case): After the alleged gang rape and murder in Hathras, the UP Police registered at least 19 cases against the PFI for sedition, promoting religious hatred and other cases. Journalist Siddiqui Kappan was arrested for alleged links with PFI.
- 2020 (Kerala gold smuggling case): NIA officials investigated links between the PFI and a gold smuggling racket in July 2020. NIA sources said the gold could be used by PFI to fund anti-national terrorist activities.
Source: www.tv9hindi.com”