NIA, ED raids on PFI trigger protests
Deccan ChronicleCHENNAI: The nation-wide raids conducted by the National Investigation Agency and the Enforcement Directorate at the offices of the Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India and the houses of their office-bearers on Thursday triggered a series of angry reactions by various leaders and activists and protests at many places in State, where 10 persons were reportedly arrested. The State President of SDPI Nellai Mubarak described the searches conducted at various premises as ‘fake’ and the charges made out against PFI leaders as ‘false’ and alleged that women leaders were harassed during the raids carried out without any women police personnel. Many other political leaders like M H Jawahariullah, who heads the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and is a sitting MLA, Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations president A Marx and TMMK leader Hyder Ali also came out heavily on the Union Government for the raids on premises connected with the PFI. In Chennai, the PFI organized protests at various places since 12 noon and many other towns also saw people coming to the roads and raising slogans against the Union Government.