Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma applauded the Center’s decision to outlaw the Popular Front of India (PFI). “I applaud the Indian government’s decision to impose a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI). The government is steadfast in its determination to make sure that anyone with a nefarious, polarising, or disruptive plan against India would be dealt with harshly. India under the Modi era is Bold & Decisive, he claimed in a tweet.
“This is a very positive action. I want to thank Prime Minister Modi and Union HM Amit Shah. We were eagerly anticipating this order. The central government made the right decision at the right moment for the country, he added.
In Assam’s context, he claimed that PFI and CFI had a nefarious plan to disturb peace and tranquillity. We let the central government know that PFI was responsible for the events in Garukhuti. We saw their evil hands during the CAA agitation, he said, adding that PFI was radicalising a lot of people.
He added that the Assam government has already started taking additional steps. “We have taken more PFI members and will continue to take more. We have also shut PFI and CFI offices in Kamrup, Baksa, and Karimganj. Within an hour or two, the state was informed, he added.
The Central government has immediately outlawed the Popular Front of India (PFI), its associates, and affiliates as unlawful associations for a period of five years in accordance with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.
The statement was made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which declared “the PFI and its allies or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect” in a notification late on Tuesday night.
Alongwith PFI, the ban is also imposed on its fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF). Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association”.
The notification clearly mentioned that the ban has been imposed against PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country.