National security must be priority
Hindustan TimesAfter two rounds of nationwide operations coordinated by federal investigative agencies and police forces in at least 15 states that resulted in the arrest of around 100 members of the Popular Front of India and the detention of another 240-odd functionaries, the controversial Islamist organisation was banned by the Union government on Wednesday. The first allegation is of direct violence, crimes and illegal activities connected to PFI members and links to proscribed groups such as the Students Islamic Movement of India and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, and international terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. PFI allegedly used these affiliates to garner mass reach and raise funds for the parent organisation, while using their grassroots network to undermine Indian democracy and sow distrust in the administration. One, while PFI members were pushing an insidious agenda, hate speech and belligerence by fringe Right-wing groups have proliferated and need to be acted upon to dispel any sense of insecurity and fear.