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| 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.
Events & Campaigns
- National Political Conference
The grand public meeting at Calicut Beach on 17 February 29 which marked the conclusion of National Political Conference saw the merger of social organizations in eight states into the Popular Front of India. Along with the state presidents of NDF Kerala, MNP Tamil Nadu and KFD Karnataka which had already merged with Popular Front, heads of social organizations in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Manipur joined hands on the dais with the Popular Front chairman.
- Freedom Parade on Indian Independence Day
The PFI and its allies conduct a freedom parade on 15 August of every year in celebration of Indian Independence Day with a slogan Be the sentinel of freedom. The national flag is carried in front of the parade by volunteers, and orchestra bands that play patriotic songs are an added attraction to the parade. The parade is followed by public meeting with participation from the public including woman. In 2010, the parade was conducted in Uduppi and Mettuppalayam. In the previous years it was conducted in other South Indian cities like Mangalapuram and Madurai.
In the 2010 parade in Mettupalayam the keynote address was given by O.M.A Salam, the National Secretary of the PFI. In his speech he said, "This Indian Independence Day is the right time to renew our determination to protect the freedom of our beloved country. Once we all Indians united and fought against British colonial forces. Then we achieved the freedom. But now the Independence of India is under threat."
Kerala state government banned the freedom parade conducted by Popular Front of India stating it would jeopardize communal harmony. The ban was challenged in the Kerala High Court which upheld the ban. The Intelligence Wing of Kerala Police had informed the High Court that Popular Front of India is the new face of banned Islamist group Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and is engaged in fundamentalist and anti-national activities. This stand of the government was rejected by the High Court while the parade ban was upheld.
- Social Justice conference 2011
The Social Justice Conference that calls to "Build the Nation on Justice" was held at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on 26 and 27 November 2011. It was organized by Popular Front of India which is a neo-social movement which claims to strives for the empowerment of the weaker sections and marginalized communities with grass root level networking in many states of India. The Conference was a get together of like minded organizations and movements which strive for the common goals.The first day of the conference had two separate seminar session on the topics ‘Together for Empowerment’ and ‘People’s Right to Justice’. The second day witnessed a large flow of masses to the Grand Public Meeting The conference was addressed by Syed Shahabuddin, a former MP and Mulayam Singh Yadav the Samajwadi party leader, a former MP and Thol. Thirumavalavan the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader. The key address of the conference was to plea the UPA government to implement the findings of Sachar Committee Report and the Ranganath Misra Commission
- School Chalo
School Chalo is the Popular Front's campaign to bring children to schools. The nation-wide campaign is in light to the Right to Education laid down in the Constitution and the role of an educated society for the total empowerment of the Nation. The focus of this campaign is the children of the age groups 6–14 years, irrespective of caste, creed and gender. The 2013 campaign aimed to distribute 100,000 kits throughout the nation with the inauguration from the Red Fort.
- Healthy People, Healthy Nation
Inline with the need of proper health to maintain the health of a Nation, the Front conducts "Healthy People, Healthy Nation" campaign every year.
In November 2010, yoga classes and marathon were held in Bangalore.
- "Bail Is The Rule; Release The Innocent From Jail"
In 2012, the Front conducted a nationwide campaign that called for the release of around 300000 innocent citizens being held in jails across the country, and the wrongful use of black law of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The month-long campaign started on Independence day and concluded at Jantar Mantar on the 15th of September with a 30-minute human chain which include noted activists like Arundhati Roy, Kavitha Krishnan ( of the CPI-ML) and the POTA-acquitted S.A.R Geelani. Roy during her speech noted the targeting of Muslim youth especially after the demolition of the Babri Mosque, with Geelani mentioning the need to stop the targeting of educated youth .
- "UAPA kariniyamathinuethire janvicharna yathra"
In the May of 2013, the organisation conducted a State-wide campaign across the length of Kerala whose name translates to "Public trial of the UAPA". The campaign that started on 8 May from Kasargod highlighted to the general public how the UAPA is being misused, and how it's terrorizing citizens who resisted oppression from ruling elite. The campaign concluded with a mass gathering at the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram on May 30.
Allegations against the PFI
- Alleged Connections with Students Islamic Movement of India
In 2010, the PFI was alleged of having links with banned Islamic terrorist organisation Student Islamic Movement of India. 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. 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.
- Alleged Terror camp in Kannur
In April 2013, Kerala Police have raided a training camp held at Narath, Kannur 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.
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. 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.
On 18 May 2013, the NIA had arrived to investigate the alleged extremist activities in Narath. The chargesheet submitted at special NIA court in Oct 2013 states that the accused formed small groups and were working for terror activities.
- Alleged Kidnap and Murder of boys for ransom
Two boys Sudheendra and Vignesh were kidnapped on 8 June 2011 from Mahajan College premises in Mysore and murdered by members of Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD), who sought ransom of 5 crore rupees to raise funds for their organisation.
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.
Following the arrest of KFD members for the crime Karnataka state government requested the Union government to ban Karnataka Forum for Dignity.
- 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 CPI-M and RSS.
- 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.
- 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 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad 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 A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case.
- 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 Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and national capital Delhi. Union Home Ministry banned bulk SMS, MMS for 15 days to quell rumours and threats.
Investigators traced the source of hate messages to Pakistan. In India, Islamist groups Popular Front Of India, HuJI, Manita Neeti Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity 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.
Kerala State Intelligence has been asked to check the accuracy of the report with respect to the PFI. However PFI has denied the accusation.
- Alleged Attack on T. J. Joseph by PFI activists
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. 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.
It is reported that the attack resulted from the ruling from one of the "Taliban-model" courts (Darul Khada) operating in the state. The Kerala state police claimed to be "unearthing the vast network" of the PFI, 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." On 9 July 2010, it was reported that PFI installations were being raided by police, and that they had found propaganda videos from the global Islamic network al-Qaeda in the possession of one alleged PFI member, and a rifle, fake SIM cards, and fake identity cards in the possession of another member of the PFI. 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. 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.
- 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 hijab (headscarf). Rayan's four younger sisters and parents were also insulted.
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.
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
- ^ Concern in govt over PFI’s growing outfits, spread, shishir gupta, Tue 5 Apr 2011, indianexpress.com
- Kerala: Police probing PFI's links with Al Qaeda, 6 September 2010, rediff.com
- ^ http://www.sahilonline.org/english/newsDetails.php?cid=1&nid=15542
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- Aim for Empowerment through Constant Struggle - Advisor to South African
- Grand Start for Popular Front National Political Conference
- PFI Freedom Parade
- Freedom parade at Mettupalayam
- Popular Front's spearheaded 'Freedom Parade'
- Parade in Mettupalayam, Tamilnadu
- Udpui: PFI celebrates Independence Day
- Freedom Parade at Mangalapuram
- 80500.htm The Hindu: Freedom Parade Parade in Mettuppalayam
- Newfrontworld:freedom parade in mettupalayam
- "Kerala high court turns down Popular Front of India's freedom parade plea". 3 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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- "Mysore double murder case: Six arrested". 23 June 2011.
- "College mourns for murdered students". 23 June 2011.
- "Six KFD activists held for Hunsur students' murder". 27 June 2011.
- "State will urge Centre to ban KFD". 27 June 2011.
- Vishal murder: Two PFI activists held
- Stabbed Kannur ABVP Leader Succumbs to Injury
- ABVP activist who was stabbed dies
- "North-East people's exodus continues". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- "Northeast people indeed assaulted, threatened in Bangalore". Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- "How HuJI, PFI lobbed the hate bomb with ease". Rediff. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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- ^ Press Trust Of India (9 July 2010). "Propaganda CD suspected to be that of Al Queda seized". Hindustan Times. Cite error: The named reference "hindustantimes_2010-07-09" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- Lawson, Alastair (8 July 2010). "Family of Indian professor 'forgives' attackers". BBC News.
- http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/07/islamic-court-ordered-chopping-of-profs-palm.htm
- "Gulf-bound persons under police scanner". Express News. 9 July 2010.
- Staff (7 July 2010). "Kerala prof attacker now threatens cop". Hindustan Times.
- Assault on Professor Joseph: graphic images of two more suspects released, KOCHI, 21 July 2010, thehindu.com
- "BJP demands ban on PFI, Kochi lecturer case be probed by NIA". Daily News & Analysis. 12 June 2010.
- "Police probing PFI's alleged links with LeT, al-Qaeda & Hizbul". Deccan Herald. 6 September 2010.
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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