Global InformationPopular Front of India information
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| Abbreviation | PFI |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | National Development Front |
| Formation | 22 November 2006 |
| Merger of | Karnataka Forum for Dignity, Manitha Neethi Pasarai |
| Type | Islamic activist organisation[1][2] |
| Purpose | Muslim political mobilisation[3] Countering Hindu nationalism[4] |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
Region served | India |
Chairman | OMA Abdul Salam |
Vice Chairman | E.M Abdul Rahiman |
General Secretary | Anis Ahmed |
| Website | www |
| Remarks | Banned for five years, beginning 28 September 2022 |
Popular Front of India (PFI) is an Islamic political organisation in India,[5][6] that engages in a radical and exclusivist style of Muslim minority politics.[7] Formed to counter Hindutva groups,[7] it was banned by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 28 September 2022 for a period of five years.[8][9]
PFI was founded in 2006 with the merger of the Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and the National Development Front (NDF).[7][10] The organisation described itself as a "neo-social movement committed to empower people to ensure justice, freedom and security".[11] It advocates for Muslim reservations.[12] In 2012, the organisation conducted protests against alleged use of the UAPA law to detain innocent citizens.[13][14]
PFI has often been accused of involvement in anti-national and anti-social activities by the Indian Government. In 2012, the Government of Kerala claimed that the organization was a resurrection of the banned terrorist outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an affiliate of the Indian Mujahideen.[15][16][17]
PFI has often been in violent clashes with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in parts of Kerala and Karnataka.[18] Activists have been found with lethal weapons, bombs, gunpowder, swords by the authorities. Several allegations have been made on the organization for having links with terrorist organizations[19] such as Taliban and Al-Qaeda.[20]
The organisation has various wings to cater to different sections of society, including the National Women's Front (NWF) and the Campus Front of India (CFI).[21] Including these wings, the ban by Ministry of Home Affairs extended to 8 affiliate organizations of PFI.
- ^ Emmerich 2019.
- ^ Santhosh & Paleri 2021, p. 574: "Contrary to its claims of being non-religious in character, the PFI is often found to deploy radical Islamic identity for grassroot mobilization and has been accused of engaging in a series of violent incidents with specific religious motifs.".
- ^ Santhosh & Paleri 2021, p. 565.
- ^ Santhosh & Paleri 2021, pp. 573–574.
- ^ Santhosh & Paleri 2021, p. 574.
- ^ Emmerich 2019, p. 46.
- ^ a b c Santhosh & Paleri 2021.
- ^ Das, Krishna N. (28 September 2022). "India bans Islamic group PFI, accuses it of 'terrorism'". Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Government bans Popular Front of India, affiliates for 5 years on terror links". The Economic Times. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Kumar, Narender (2019). Politics and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-000-69147-4.
- ^ "Popular Front of India denies role in terror attacks". The Times of India. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "National campaign for Muslim reservation launched in Pune". Newswala. 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Popular Front of India plans month-long campaign to highlight plight of jailed Muslims". The Times of India. 11 July 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
- ^ "Popular Front's campaign starts". The Times of India. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
- ^ "PFI is SIMI in another form, Kerala govt tells HC". The Indian Express. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Ban on 'Freedom Parades' by PFI activists upheld". Zee News. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "PFI is SIMI in another form, Kerala govt tells HC - Indian Express". The Indian Express. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ * "popular front of india: Latest News, Videos and Photos of popular front of india | Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
Over the past years, Kerala and Karnataka have often witnessed violent clashes between workers of the Popular Front of India and the Sangh Parivar.
- "Three RSS men held for attacking Popular Front members | Thiruvananthapuram News". The Times of India. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- "shan: 'Tit-for-tat' double murder of BJP, SDPI leaders rocks Kerala". The Times of India. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- "Political murders are a stain on Kerala's record of progressive politics, social harmony". The Indian Express. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Khurshid, Salman; Luthra, Sidharth; Malik, Lokendra; Bedi, Shruti (11 June 2020). Judicial Review: Process, Powers and Problems: Process, Powers, and Problems (Essays in Honour of Upendra Baxi). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-83603-6.
- ^
- "Kerala Police unmasks PFI's terror face". The New Indian Express. 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- "Police unearth CDs of Taliban like terror module in Kerala". Sify News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
- "Attack on Lecturer: PFI Men Arrested; Qaeda CD Seized". Outlook. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
- "Assault on Professor Joseph: graphic images of two more suspects released". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ^ "Cops manhandled women during PFI raids: NWF". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.