PFI Ban: Why right-wing radical organizations are not banned, asks Owaisi

Responding to the ban on Popular Front of India (PFI) by the Centre on Wednesday morning, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi called it a 'draconian ban' and that it cannot be supported.

"While I have always opposed PFI's approach and supported democratic approaches, this ban on PFI cannot be supported," he said.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates as an 'Unlawful Association' with immediate effect for a period of five years.

Owaisi questioned why PFI is banned but organisations associated with convicts of Khaja Ajmeri bomb blasts aren't. "Why has govt not banned right-wing majoritarian organizations?" he asked.

"Actions of some individuals who commit crime does not mean that the organization itself must be banned," he added.

He said that a a draconian ban of this kind is dangerous as it is a ban on any Muslim who wishes to speak his mind

"The way India's electoral autarky is approaching fascism, every Muslim youth will now be arrested with a PFI pamphlet under India's black law, UAPA," he tweeted.

Owaisi also further stated that he opposes the UAPA Act and that he will will always oppose all actions under UAPA.

"We should remember that Congress amended UAPA to make it stringent & when BJP amended the law to make it even more draconian, Congress supported it. This case will follow the timeline of Kappan, where any activist or journalist is randomly arrested & takes 2 years to even get bail," he said.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.

Therefore, the ministry stated that it found necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization and has hence declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with its associates or affiliates or 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" under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

A Gazette Notification released states that the Income Tax Department has canceled the registration granted to PFI under section 12A or 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). The Income Tax Department has also canceled the registration granted to Rehab India Foundation under section 12A or section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961.