Twitter Withholds PFI Official Handle After Home Ministry's 5-Year Ban On The Outfit

NEW DELHI: The official Twitter handle of Popular Front of India(PFI) has been withheld with immediate effect by the micro-blogging site on Thursday. The micro-blogging site received a legal demand letter where it was asked to ban the official handle of the proscribed outfit as it has been termed "Unlawful" and banned by the Home Ministry on Wednesday under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for having alleged terror financing and recruitment of youth. 

The government of India yesterday, through an official order, asked to erase all the social media traces of the proscribed outfit including its social media accounts in Twitter, Instagram, Youtube Channels, and Facebook Accounts. 

The Home Ministry on Tuesday issued an order asking to ban the Popular Front of India as it was found that the outfit was engaged in terror financing and illegal recruitment of youth to spread hatred among people. The Ministry also banned all the associates or affiliates of the outfit which are Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala which was under the umbrella of Popular Front of India(PFI). 

Notably, It was also accused that some of the PFI's founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organizations.

It is to be noted here that Popular Front Karnataka's Twitter Account is still in operation and they are openly engaged in anti-India and Islamist propaganda. 

The central government has also directed all states and Union Territories to use their power under the UAPA against the PFI and its 'affiliates'. 

Also Read: PFI banning and its impact

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