Behind the façade of a ‘neo-social movement’, the outfit comprises ultra-religious, radical Muslim men fiercely protective of what they see as tenets of their faithA rally taken out by the Popular Front of India in Thiruvananthapuram on October 7, 2017, against Hindu fascism and alleged bid to silence the minorities. Such sloganeering against the Hindutva forces and their perceived non-Muslim accomplices is typical of the PFI. Built behind the façade of a ‘neo-social movement’ seeking social and economic justice and political representation for Muslims, Dalits and tribals, the PFI comprises ultra-religious, radical Muslim men fiercely protective of what they see as tenets of their faith. Observers say the PFI’s women’s wing, the National Women’s Front, was actively involved in appropriating the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and its students’ wing, the Campus Front of India, was in the dock for political violence and murder. Central agencies such as the ED have accused the PFI of using its feeder organisations such as the Rehab India Foundation, which has been active in social service and disaster relief in many States, as channels of money laundering.

Source: The Hindu September 25, 2022 07:58 UTC