Opposition parties playing it safe on the ban of PFI

Opposition parties appeared to be trying out a tricky balancing act on the ban of PFI. AICC's official statement said it was opposed to all kinds of communalism but avoided mentioning PFI or about its ban even as some party leaders opposed the ban itself while some others said RSS too should be banned alongside PFI.

CPI-M and CPI argued "ban is not a solution" and sought administrative and political measures but avoided providing any concrete ideas. There are whispers among sections of Congress leaders that the party trying to sit on the fence or not explicitly supporting the ban on PFI could risk the party falling into a BJP trap, more so when the build-up has started for the assembly polls in Gujarat, Karnataka and Himachal.

The fact that AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly come out against the ban makes the opposition task all the more trickier, they felt.


AICC general secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh said: "Congress has always been and will continue to be against all forms and types of communalism -- majority, minority makes no difference." CWC member AK Antony said: "Ban is no solution. Banned outfits always look for other ways."