The CPI(M) responded to the ban of the Popular Front of India and said that banning extremist organisations under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is not going to solve the problem. The party clarified that the party does not back its extremist views or violent activities against perceived opponents.
CPI(M) further said past experiences have shown that bans on organisations like the RSS and the Maoists were not effective. "All these forces, whether they represent the extremist majority or minority groups, must be combated by utilising the regular laws of the land and by firm administrative action," read the tweet.
Voicing a similar opinion, Congress in an official statement said differentiating between majority and minority will not make a difference. Jairam Ramesh, MP and General Secretary in charge of communications, AICC, said the party has always been able to fight uncompromisingly all ideologies and institutions that abuse religion to polarise our society. "The fight is of utmost priority to preserve, protect and celebrate the secular and composite construct of our society and nationhood," he added.
State units of Congress criticised majority communalism and BJP's role in it. Karnataka Congress tweeted PFI and SDPI were like two sides of the same coin and asked why the BJP is not raising its voice against the SDPI.
"Same people will work with different names and as different organisations. We have seen this happen," said Sitaram Yechuri to the media. He cited the example of SIMI (Students' Islamic Movement of India). "If you are going to indulge in bulldozer politics and communal hatred against the minorities, you are creating that atmosphere. That must end," he added.
VD Satheesan, Opposition Leader in Kerala, said all fundamentalist forces need to be reined in. "It is not possible to rein in organisations like the Popular Front solely with the ban. Both the Social Democratic Party of India and the RSS function with mutual cooperation. Such forces cannot be encouraged at any cost," reported The News Minute.