BJP welcomes ban on PFI; Siddaramaiah asks why no action on RSS, triggers row

Bengaluru

While the State government and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hailed the ban on Popular Front of India (PFI), opposition Congress also welcomed the ban but with some caveats, triggering a row.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the demand to ban PFI and its affiliates was long-pending and political parties across the spectrum, from CPI (M) in Kerala to Congress, had been demanding for the same. He described PFI “as mutants of the proscribed organisations Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD)” and alleged the now-banned organisations had no respect for the law and Constitution and that they had carried out several violent acts “based on orders from outside India”.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who last week during NIA raids was the first to say this was a step towards banning the organisation, welcomed the ban and said this was much needed for national security.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said he would only reiterate what he had been saying for long that the State government should act against any organisation indulging in illegal activities irrespective of its religious association.

“I hope the government acts without any prejudice against any religion,” he tweeted. Responding to media persons, he also said while he welcomes the ban on PFI, he demanded that “action must be taken against organisations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and others which were also disturbing peace in the society,” triggering a political row. 

Chief Minister Mr. Bommai hit back at Siddaramaiah and said RSS was a “nationalist organisation” carrying out various social service and educational activities. “This only shows these people are related to organisations like PFI. Do you need any more evidence than the very fact that he [Siddaramaiah] withdrew cases against members of PFI?” he asked. 

Congress leader Tanveer Sait, who was allegedly attacked by a PFI member, termed the ban on PFI a “political gimmick” in the run-up to the elections to polarise voters. Mr. Bommai hit back against him too, saying Mr. Sait was himself attacked by PFI member and had demanded action against PFI. However, Mr. Sait said while the government claims he was attacked by a PFI member, the chargesheet filed by the police did not mention the organisation.