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	The Front has a continual presence in the field of Human rights. It works in cooperation with the ] and other Human rights activists in bid to curb human rights violation in the nation.<ref name="twocircles.net">http://twocircles.net/2012apr02/nchro_asks_govt_repeal_antpeople_laws_frame_rules_human_rights_act_1993.html</ref><ref name="twocircles.net"/><ref name="mangalorean.com">http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=346366</ref> In 2012 and 2013, the organisation conducted protests against the use of the <span/>]] to detain innocent citizens as well.<ref>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/india/32632277_1_pfi-public-meetings-muslims</ref><ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/mangalore/34430508_1_pfi-e-m-abdul-rahiman-popular-front</ref> Its initiative to bring (back) education at the grassroots levels, the organisation conducts the ¨School Chalo" programme annually, prior of the academic year; the 2013 campaign saw around 116595 school kits being distributed in 15 states costing more than 3.3 crore rupees.<ref>http://twocircles.net/2013jul17/successful_conclusion_pfi%E2%80%99s_school_chalo_campaign.html</ref> The organisation has put active effort in the implementation of the reservation advised as per the Mishra Commission (]) report in order remedy the decades of inequality that the minority communities had faced.<ref>http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/National-campaign-for-Muslim-reservation-launched-in-Pune-1507.html</ref><ref>http://www.milligazette.com/news/6494-pfis-march-for-muslim-reservation</ref><ref>http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011/12/popular-front-of-india-welcomes-muslim.html</ref>		The Front has a continual presence in the field of Human rights. It works in cooperation with the ] and other Human rights activists in bid to curb human rights violation in the nation.<ref name="twocircles.net">http://twocircles.net/2012apr02/nchro_asks_govt_repeal_antpeople_laws_frame_rules_human_rights_act_1993.html</ref><ref name="twocircles.net"/><ref name="mangalorean.com">http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=346366</ref> In 2012 and 2013, the organisation conducted protests against the use of the <span/>]] to detain innocent citizens as well.<ref>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-11/india/32632277_1_pfi-public-meetings-muslims</ref><ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com">http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/mangalore/34430508_1_pfi-e-m-abdul-rahiman-popular-front</ref> Its initiative to bring (back) education at the grassroots levels, the organisation conducts the ¨School Chalo" programme annually, prior of the academic year; the 2013 campaign saw around 116595 school kits being distributed in 15 states costing more than 3.3 crore rupees.<ref>http://twocircles.net/2013jul17/successful_conclusion_pfi%E2%80%99s_school_chalo_campaign.html</ref> The organisation has put active effort in the implementation of the reservation advised as per the Mishra Commission (]) report in order remedy the decades of inequality that the minority communities had faced.<ref>http://www.newswala.com/India-National-News/National-campaign-for-Muslim-reservation-launched-in-Pune-1507.html</ref><ref>http://www.milligazette.com/news/6494-pfis-march-for-muslim-reservation</ref><ref>http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011/12/popular-front-of-india-welcomes-muslim.html</ref>

	==Allegations against the PFI==

	; Alleged Connections with ]

	In 2010, the PFI was alleged of having links with banned Islamic terrorist organisation ].<ref name="sify.com"/> PFI's national chairman Abdul Rehman was the former national secretary of SIMI, while the state secretary Abdul Hameed Master was SIMI's former state secretary. Most former leaders of SIMI were either identified with PFI or were at present holding various portfolios in the organization.<ref>http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=769976</ref> The alleged SIMI connection has been dubbed baseless by the leaders of the Popular Front stating the fact that the Front was launched in 1993, whereas the SIMI ban came much later in 2001.<ref>http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=154314</ref><ref name="tulunadunews.com">http://tulunadunews.com/2012/11/03/why-popular-front-pfi-leader-shareef-makes-a-attempt-to-clear-misconceptions-about-pfi/</ref>

	;Alleged Terror camp in Kannur
	In April 2013, Kerala Police have raided a training camp held at Narath, ] and arrested 21 activists of the Popular Front of India. Two country-made bombs, a sword, raw materials for making bombs, pamphlets in the name of PFI were seized by the police. The raid was held at the office building of Thanal Charitable Trust. A document with names of several leading personalities and vehicles had also been seized, which police suspect is a hit-list.<ref name="dailypioneer.com">http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/kerala-cops-confirm-popular-front-terror-camp-in-kannur.html</ref><ref>http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-radical-outfit-popular-front-of-india-has-terrorist-links-4245028-NOR.html</ref><ref>http://www.deccanherald.com/content/328167/country-made-bombs-seized-21.html</ref>

	However, the Popular Front leadership and those arrested claimed that it was a Yoga training programme organized as part of a personality development programme by the outfit.<ref name="dailypioneer.com"/> The Popular Front further asked for a judicial probe by a sitting judge to inquire into the alleged training camp. The State President claimed that this police case was fabricated, and was cooked up in a bid to tarnish the organisations image.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/narath-pfi-seeks-judicial-probe/article4701551.ece</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">http://twocircles.net/2013apr26/pfi_smells_conspiracy_behind_kerala_arrests.html</ref>

	On 18 May 2013, the ] had arrived to investigate the alleged extremist activities in Narath.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/narath-case-nia-team-in-kannur/article4726572.ece</ref> The chargesheet submitted at special NIA court in Oct 2013 states that the accused formed small groups and were working for terror activities.<ref>http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=140835</ref>

	; Alleged Kidnap and Murder of boys for ransom

	Two boys Sudheendra and Vignesh were kidnapped on 8 June 2011 from Mahajan College premises in ] and murdered by members of Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD), who sought ransom of 5 crore rupees to raise funds for their organisation.<ref name=dna>{{cite web \|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_karnataka-forum-for-dignity-men-abducted-killed-hunsur-boys-for-ransom_1558078\|title=Karnataka Forum for Dignity men abducted, killed Hunsur boys for ransom\|date=23 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mysore-double-murder-case-six-arrested/161928-60-115.html \|title=Mysore double murder case: Six arrested \|date=23 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-23/mysore/29693768_1_students-lectures-college \|title=College mourns for murdered students\|date=23 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-23/bangalore/29693825_1_kfd-karnataka-forum-murder-case \|title=Six KFD activists held for Hunsur students’ murder\|date=27 June 2011}}</ref>

	In 2006 KFD had merged with New Delhi-based Popular Front of India (PFI). The arrested KFD members are Adil alias Adil Pasha, Athavulla Khan, Ameen alias Syed Ameen, Rehman alias Shabbir Rehaman, Kouser alias Mohammed Kouser and Safeer Ahmed alias Safeer.<ref name=dna />

	Following the arrest of KFD members for the crime Karnataka state government requested the Union government to ban Karnataka Forum for Dignity.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-27/bangalore/29709372_1_karnataka-forum-kfd-ban \|title=State will urge Centre to ban KFD\|date=27 June 2011}}</ref>

	;Alleged Murder of CPI(M) and RSS workers

	The Kerala government in an affidavit informed the Kerala High Court, that Popular Front of India had active involvement in 27 murder cases, mostly of cadres of ] and ].<ref name=ie>{{cite web \|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pfi-is-simi-in-another-form-kerala-govt-tells-hc/979440/ \|title=PFI is banned outfit SIMI in another form, Kerala govt tells HC \|date=26 Jul 2012 \|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref>

	;Alleged Murder of Vishalkumar allegedly by a PFI activist
	On 20 July 2012, Vishalkumar, a student of NSS College, Konni, an active worker of ABVP was attacked inside the campus of Christian College and stabbed from behind to death. Three ABVP activists were attacked by an armed group of 15 Campus front activists. Police arrested two Capus Front of India activists in connection with the murder. Another student Sreejith was also injured. The arrested are Nazim and Shafeeq. Police said that they are searching for nineteen more persons in connection with the murder.<ref></ref>

	;Alleged Murder of ABVP activist N Sachin Gopal allegedly by a PFI activist
	On 6 July 2012, N Sachin Gopal, a student of Modern ITC and Kannur ] district leader, was allegedly stabbed from back by members of Campus Front and Popular Front of India. He later died of his injuries at KMC Hospital in Mangalore on 6 September 2012<ref></ref> A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case.<ref></ref>

	;Alleged SMS hate campaign
	After the Assam riots in 2012, a SMS hate campaign was launched threatening people from North-East India that they will be attacked, particularly after Ramzan. This led to a mass exodus of 30,000 people from cities of ], ], ] and national capital ].
	Union ] banned bulk SMS, MMS for 15 days to quell rumours and threats.<ref name="zen">{{cite web \|title=North-East people’s exodus continues\|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/north-east-peoples-exodus-continues_794432.html \|accessdate= 18 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="noe">{{cite web \|title=Northeast people indeed assaulted, threatened in Bangalore \|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2012/08/18/northeast-people-assaulted-threatened-in-bangalore-kar-1055896.html \|accessdate= 18 August 2012}}</ref>

	Investigators traced the source of hate messages to Pakistan. In India, Islamist groups Popular Front Of India, ], Manita Neeti Pasarai and ] circulated the messages to mask the true origin of the messages and make it seem as they were originating from within India. The SMS campaign was designed to create panic among people from north east forcing them to flee and to damage the social fabric and economy.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-how-huji-pfi-lobbed-the-hate-bomb-north-east-with-ease/20120821.htm \|title=How HuJI, PFI lobbed the hate bomb with ease \|date=21 August 2012 \|publisher=Rediff \|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref>

	Kerala State Intelligence has been asked to check the accuracy of the report with respect to the PFI. However PFI has denied the accusation.<ref>http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ne-exodus-pfi-denies-hand-in-hate-message-campaign/20120821.htm</ref>

	;Alleged Attack on T. J. Joseph by PFI activists
	{{Main\|Attack on T. J. Joseph}}
	In Jan 2011, Kerala Police has filed a charge sheet against 27 PFI activists in conjunction with an incident in which they allegedly chopped the hand off of a Kerala professor who had allegedly offended the religious sentiments of his students.<ref>http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Hand-chopping-case--Charge-sheet-filed-against-27-accused/737464</ref> At the time of the attack, Joseph was coming back from his duties at a private Christian college in Muvattapuzha and had been accused of blasphemy.<ref name="hindustantimes_2010-07-09">
	{{Cite news
	\|title=Propaganda CD suspected to be that of Al Queda seized
	\|author= Press Trust Of India
	\|newspaper=Hindustan Times
	\|date= 9 July 2010
	\|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/Propaganda-CD-suspected-to-be-that-of-Al-Queda-seized/Article1-569745.aspx}}</ref>{{by whom\|date=January 2011}}<ref>
	{{Cite news
	\|title= Family of Indian professor 'forgives' attackers
	\|first=Alastair
	\|last=Lawson
	\|newspaper=BBC News
	\|date=2010-07-08
	\|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10557819.stm
	}}</ref>

	It is reported that the attack resulted from the ruling from one of the "Taliban-model" courts (]) operating in the state.<ref>http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/07/islamic-court-ordered-chopping-of-profs-palm.htm</ref> The Kerala state police claimed to be "unearthing the vast network" of the PFI,<ref>
	{{Cite news
	\|title= Gulf-bound persons under police scanner
	\|newspaper=Express News
	\|date=2010-07-09
	\|url= http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article180545.ece
	}}</ref> and after a series of raids on the houses of PFI members, the district secretary of the PFI "threatened the officer with dire consequences if he continued raiding the houses of its activists."<ref>
	{{Cite news
	\|title=Kerala prof attacker now threatens cop
	\|author=Staff
	\|newspaper=Hindustan Times
	\|date=2010-07-07
	\|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/Kerala-prof-attacker-now-threatens-cop/Article1-568506.aspx
	}}</ref> On 9 July 2010, it was reported that PFI installations were being raided by police, and that they had found ] videos from the global ] network ] in the possession of one alleged PFI member, and a rifle, fake ]s, and fake ]s in the possession of another member of the PFI.<ref name=ieconcern/><ref name="hindustantimes_2010-07-09">
	{{Cite news
	\|title=Propaganda CD suspected to be that of Al Queda seized
	\|author= Press Trust Of India
	\|newspaper=Hindustan Times
	\|date=2010-07-09
	\|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/Propaganda-CD-suspected-to-be-that-of-Al-Queda-seized/Article1-569745.aspx
	}}</ref><ref>, KOCHI, 21 July 2010, thehindu.com</ref> As a result of the incident, the BJP has called for a ban on the PFI and an examinations of possible links between the PFI and the Taliban by the National Investigation Agency.<ref name="DNA_2010-06-12">
	{{Cite news
	\|newspaper=Daily News & Analysis
	\|title=BJP demands ban on PFI, Kochi lecturer case be probed by NIA
	\|date=2010-06-12
	\|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bjp-demands-ban-on-pfi-kochi-lecturer-case-be-probed-by-nia_1408771
	}}</ref> On 6 September 2010, the Kerala Government informed the state high court that investigators thus far found no evidence of a connection between the Popular Front of India with Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Taiba (Let) or al-Qaeda.<ref name="deccanherald-2010-09-06">
	{{Cite news
	\|title=Police probing PFI's alleged links with LeT, al-Qaeda & Hizbul
	\|newspaper=Deccan Herald
	\|date=2010-09-06
	\|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Al-Qaeda-has-come-to-Kerala--Govt/677937/
	}}</ref><ref>http://www.hindustantimes.com/Police-probing-PFI-s-alleged-links-with-LeT-al-Qaeda-amp-Hizbul/Article1-597025.aspx</ref>

	; Alleged Harassment of woman by a PFI activist

	Rayana R Kazi, a woman from Kerala approached the Kerala High Court seeking police protection after threats through phone calls and anonymous letters accusing her of abadoning Islam and converting to Christianity were made after she started wearing jeans and shirt. The harassers wanted her to be in purdah and wear ] (headscarf). Rayan's four younger sisters and parents were also insulted.<ref name=iex>{{cite web \|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kerala-engineer-forced-to-wear-veil;-protect-her-hc-tells-police/659686/0 \|title=Kerala engineer forced to wear veil; protect her, HC tells police\|date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

	After she could not get justice from local police and state women’s commission she approached the High Court. She named Muhammed Kavugoli, an activist of the Popular Front of India (PFI) as her tormentor.<ref name=iex />

	==Anti-Hindutva Stance, Political Alternative- Allegation and Conspiracies==		==Anti-Hindutva Stance, Political Alternative- Allegation and Conspiracies==

Revision as of 10:19, 3 February 2014

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Popular Front of India

Abbreviation	PFI
Formation	22 November 2006
Type	Voluntary and Non-profit Organisation
Purpose	A neo social movement for a new India of equal rights to all Indians
Headquarters	Delhi (Head Quarters) G-66, 2nd Floor, Shaheen Bagh Kalindikunj, Noida Road, New Delhi – 110025, Tel/ Fax – 011 29945003
Region served	India
Official language	Tamil, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Meitei, Telugu
Chairman of the Front	K.M. Shareef
Main organ	State Presidents
Website	http://popularfrontindia.com

The Popular Front of India (PFI) is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc. The PFI has about 80,000 members and sympathizers all over the country. The organisation states it purpose as Front with an aim of all round empowerment of the deprived communities, especially Muslims who are backward in educational, economic, social and political fields, and striving hard to restore the rights of marginalized and oppressed communities.

In 2012, the Government of Kerala informed the High Court that the activities of Popular Front are inimical to the safety of the country and is "nothing but a resurrection of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in another form", In its argument to ban the organization's Indian Independence day's commemoration program, the "Freedom Parade". The High Court rejected the Government's stand but upheld the ban imposed by the state Government. In July 2010, Kerala Police had unearthed country-made bombs, weapons and CDs and documents containing Taliban and Al-Queda propaganda from PFI activists. The raids conducted were termed undemocratic and unconstitutional by the leaders of the Popular front. As of 6 September 2010, as informed to the state high court by the Kerala government, no evidence has been found by the Police in its probe into the allegation of links to Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Taiba (Let) or al-Qaeda. The SIMI connection and other allegations have been refuted by the PFI, and remain to be proven. The organisation provided counter arguments to the allegations positioned against it in its 2012 nationwide campaign ¨Why the Popular Front?¨

The Front has a continual presence in the field of Human rights. It works in cooperation with the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations and other Human rights activists in bid to curb human rights violation in the nation. In 2012 and 2013, the organisation conducted protests against the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to detain innocent citizens as well. Its initiative to bring (back) education at the grassroots levels, the organisation conducts the ¨School Chalo" programme annually, prior of the academic year; the 2013 campaign saw around 116595 school kits being distributed in 15 states costing more than 3.3 crore rupees. The organisation has put active effort in the implementation of the reservation advised as per the Mishra Commission (National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities) report in order remedy the decades of inequality that the minority communities had faced.

Anti-Hindutva Stance, Political Alternative- Allegation and Conspiracies

In the series of events that took place in end of 2012 viz. "Why Popular Front", it was reported that the leaders reasoned as to why numerous allegations were being made and "conspiracies" being hatched, the main reason for this being its strong anti-Hindutva stance, and its potential emergence as a political alternative. Similar views of "conspiracy" against the organisation were aired by certain Popular Front leaders in 2010 and later, during the "Social Resurgence" conference. In 2013, the leaders claimed similar conspiracy in the Narath, Kannur incident where bias was shown in booking the 21 Muslim youth under the black law UAPA. The General Secretary, OMA Salaam, questioned the use of the UAPA, esp. in Kannur district where extremist RSS and CPI(M) members had been rounded up during arms training, and (lightly) booked under normal laws.

References

External links

Popular Front Of India
Thejas Newspaper
Create broad-based alliance of all oppressed sections, The Hindu, 18 Feb 2007
Video summarizing the Empower India Conference

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