Following opposition from important Muslim organizations to recommended action against a Sunni Wahhabi movement from national security planners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah decided to outlaw the PFI and its affiliates.
Before NIA, ED, and State Police raids on September 22 were carried out, it is understood that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with key Muslim group leaders on September 17 to learn about their perspectives.
The largest Muslim organizations in the nation, including those representing the Deobandi, Barelvi, and Sufi sects of Islam, were consulted by NSA and Intelligence Bureau employees. All of these organizations were unambiguous in their belief that PFI was pursuing an extremist campaign to exploit the communal fault lines in India in accordance with the Wahhabi-Salafi goal of pan-Islamist organizations.
The Sufi and Barelvi clerics have applauded the Centre’s move to outlaw the Popular Front of India and its associates. Everyone should have patience if steps have been done to stifle extremism, according to the chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council.
The All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council issued the statement, which read, “The All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council believes that if this action has been taken for compliance with the law and the prevention of terrorism, then everyone should work patiently on it, and this step of the government and investigative agencies should be welcomed.”
