Top PFI leader denies role in Kanpur violence, says organisation doesn’t have any unit in UP

Popular Front of India (PFI) General Secretary Anis Ahmed has rubbished allegations of the organisation’s role in the recent Kanpur violence. He even condemned the violence.

He said: “PFI has no link with Kanpur violence. We do not have any unit in Uttar Pradesh, let alone Kanpur.” “PFI has only ad hoc unit in UP. We are not named in the FIR; we have no link with the accused in the Kanpur violence,” he added.

According to the Kanpur Police, documents related to the Popular Front of India (PFI) were also found during a raid on the premises of Hayat Zafar Hashmi, who has been accused of orchestrating the violence.

“We condemn the Kanpur violence. We have become a soft target for the BJP and the Central agencies,” he said. “But the police should have acted against Nupur Sharma to avoid protests,” he added.

The BJP high command on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad during a recent TV debate. The comments are said to have sparked the violence in Kanpur.

Speaking about the controversy over a PFI rally in Kerala, he said, “The CPM is witch-hunting us. They can’t accept that Muslims are asserting their political identity.” “We condemn the [hate] slogans raised by a minor in our rally. But action should be taken against everyone involved in hate politics. Why target only PFI,” he asked.

A young boy attended the rally and purportedly raised slogans against Hindus and Christians.