Congress irked at ban on PFI? Lok Sabha chief whip K Suresh wants RSS to be outlawed too

Sparking a massive row on Wednesday, Congress Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh compared Popular Front of India (PFI) to RSS. Speaking to media on PFI ban, Suresh who is Chief Whip of Congress in Lower House claimed that RSS also perpetuates communalism in country. Making a flawed comparison between two outfits, he contended that nothing will be achieved unless RSS is also banned by Centre. 

Congress MP K Suresh opined, "We are also demanding a ban on RSS also. PFI ban is not a remedy. RSS is also indulging in communalism across country. RSS is spreing Hindu communalism everywhere. RSS and PFI are equal. So, government should ban both. Why only PFI? RSS is doing majority communalism. Wherever RSS is spreing majority communalism, minority communalism is also coming up. Ultimately, both communalism is dangerous." 

Centre bans PFI

In a notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday, PFI and its affiliate organizations were banned under UAPA for a period of 5 years. Besides PFI, its affiliates- Rehab India Foundation, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Campus Front of India, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala have been declared as "unlawful associations". This comes in wake of massive pan-India raids against PFI in which multiple people were arrested.

On September 22,  ED, NIA and state police conducted raids at 93 locations in 15 states - Kerala, Tamil Nu, Karnataka, Andhra Presh, Telangana, Uttar Presh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Mhya Presh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur. se searches were conducted at houses and offices of top PFI leers and members in connection with 5 cases registered by NIA. During raids, incriminating documents, cash, sharp-edged weapons and a large number of digital devices were seized.

Moreover, a total of 45 PFI members including 19 from Kerala, 11 from Tamil Nu, 7 from Karnataka, 4 from Andhra Presh, 2 from Rajasthan, and one each from UP and Telangana were arrested. As per sources, operation was codenamed 'Operation Lotus' and involved months of planning and coordination with involvement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security visor Ajit Doval. In second phase of this operation a day earlier, more than 247 people allegedly linked with PFI were detained or arrested in searches across 7 states.