Centre directs States/UTs to exercise powers of UAPA against PFI and its affiliates

New Delhi: After declaring the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates and affiliates as an unlawful association, the Centre has directed the States and Union Territories to exercise powers of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against them.

In a notification issued yesterday, the Central Government declared PFI and its associates and affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect, for a period of five years.

In the notification, Union Home Ministry said, the PFI and its associates and affiliates including Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala have been involved in the violent terrorist activities with an intent to create a reign of terror in the country.

It added that the government is of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb of unlawful activities of the PFI and related fronts, they will use this opportunity to continue its subversive activities thereby disturbing public order and undermining the



constitutional setup of the country.

It added that they will encourage and enforce terror-based regressive regime and continue propagating anti-national sentiments and radicalize a particular section of society with the intention to create disaffection against the country.

It mentioned that there has been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups and some activists of the PFI have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and participated in terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In view of this, the Ministry said, it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates, affiliates and fronts as unlawful association with immediate effect. The Home Ministry said that the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat had recommended to ban PFI.

Recently,  the National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and State Police carried out a joint operation at premises linked to PFI  in several states. Several PFI leaders and functionaries were arrested in the raids.