PFI raises "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans while protesting in Pune; RJD leader defends it

Pune, Sept 26: Digging their own grave, "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans were raised at a Popular Front of India (PFI) protest march in Pune on Friday. These protests came after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at the PFI office in Kondhwa, Pune, on September 22, as part of its nationwide action against the organization.

 

"Pakistan Zindabad" slogans were raised outside the District Collector's office on Friday in Pune city where PFI cadres gathered against the recent arrests of its leaders across the country. Some protestors were detained by Pune police and case registered of unlawful assembly against protestors. Police also arrested some protestors.

 

 

"Case registered under sections of rioting and for blocking the roads at Bund Garden police station. Probe underway pertaining to videos that went viral. Stringent action to be taken against culprits," said Sagar Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone II, Pune.

 

Earlier, Pune Police had said they will probe and verify the videos and action will be taken accordingly. "We have received some videos, we will investigate and verify them completely and take action accordingly," the DCP had said.

 

Amid this chaos, a senior leader of Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday said raising "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans does not mean those protesting become a citizen of the neighbouring country and will move base there. He added such slogans are only a part of the protest.

 

 

“Pakistan zindabad slogans are just a part of a protest but that doesn't mean those raising such slogans become Pakistani & will go to Pakistan,” Tiwari was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

 

The Police also informed that a man named Riyaz Sayyad has been named in the FIR. Pune Police said that it was an unathorised gathering as PFI had not obtained prior permission for the protest.

 

 

Joint teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate and police conducted multiple raids across 15 states of the country against PFI on September 22 and arrested over 106 members. The largest-ever crackdown that was conducted against the PFI members spread across 15 states was code-named "Operation Octopus".

 

The searches were conducted in connection with five cases registered by the NIA following "continued inputs and evidence" that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations.

 

A large number of criminal cases have been registered in different states over the last few years against the PFI and its leaders and members for their involvement in many violent acts.

 

The PFI had on Friday called for a 12-hour shutdown in Kerala, which turned violent in parts of the state. Stone-pelting was witnessed at various places, including at the RSS office at Mattannur in Kannur. Two police officials were also injured in the incident in Kollam.

 

 

The Kerala High Court initiated a suo motu case against PFI leaders who called for a strike in the state against the arrest of its members by the NIA.