BJP opposition in Kerala welcome PFI ban, but seek similar move against RSS

The Indian National Congress in Kerala and its coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Wednesday (28) welcomed the Narendra Modi government's decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities, but said the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Sawayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should also be banned.

The RSS is the ideological mentor of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Strongly condemning the activities of the PFI, senior IUML (Muslim League) leader and state legislator MK Muneer said the radical outfit had misinterpreted the Quran and persuaded the community members to choose the path of violence.

"The Popular Front of India or PFI not only tried to mislead the young generation but also tried to create division and hatred in the society," Muneer, who is a former minister, said in Kozhikode in the southern state.

"All Islamic scholars in the state have strongly condemned the extremist ideologies. But, outfits like PFI have made even tiny children raise contemptuous slogans. Which Islam has persuaded them to do so?" the legislator from Kozhikode South asked.

Stating that IUML has always opposed the deeds of both RSS and PFI-SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India which the political wing of the PFI), Muneer said the respective communities should reject the communal ideologies of such outfits.

Sharing similar views, senior Congress leader and former state home minister Ramesh Chennithala said the Modi government's decision to ban PFI was a "good thing".

"RSS should also be banned like this. In Kerala, both majority communalism and minority communalism should be equally opposed. Both the outfits have flared up communal hatred and thus tried to create division in the society," he said.

Chennithala said the Congress is a party which has taken a strong stand against spread of communalism by both the majority and minority communities.

The recent dawn-to-dusk protest called by the PFI turned violent, affecting normal life in many parts of Kerala as agitated activists pelted stones at public transport buses, destroyed shops and vehicles and threatened people.

The protest was called by the PFI to protest against the raids in offices and residences of its leaders and their subsequent arrests on September 22 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

In a notification issued late Tuesday (27) night, the Indian home ministry banned the PFI saying the central government is of the opinion that the Islamist outfit and its affiliates have been involved in subversive activities, thereby disturbing public order and undermining constitutional set up of the country and encouraging and enforcing a terror-based regressive regime.

It continues "propagating anti-national sentiments and radicalising a particular section of society" with the intention to create disaffection against the country, it said.

[With PTI inputs]