States can now prohibit use of funds, spaces by SIMI, says Centre
NEWDELHI:The Centre has empowered state governments to prohibit the use of funds and spaces for holding activities by the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), allegedly involved in a number of terrorist activities in the country.
In a notification, the Union home ministry said the ban imposed on SIMI was extended for five more years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 on January 31.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under sections 7 and 8 of the said Act shall be exercised also by state governments and Union territory administrations in relation to the above said unlawful association,” it said.
Section 7 is related to powers to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association and section 8 specifies the powers to ban the use of locations by an unlawful organisations.
The ministry said if SIMI’s unlawful activities were not curbed immediately, it would continue its subversive activities, reorganise its activists who are still absconding, and disrupt the secular fabric of the country by propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionist ideas. It listed 58 cases in which SIMI members were “involved”.
The ministry said the outfit has been polluting the minds of people by creating communal disharmony, undertaking activities prejudicial to the integrity and security of India.
The Centre is also of the opinion that it is necessary to declare SIMI an unlawful association with immediate effect because of its activities, it said.
Among the terror acts in which SIMI members were allegedly involved are blasts in Gaya in 2017, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in 2014, and jailbreak in Bhopal in 2014. Police from MP, Maharashtra, Delhi, TN, Telangana and Kerala have provided details of conviction against top SIMI leaders Safdar Nagori, Abu Faisal and others.