By MM Staff
New Delhi: The Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been banned by the government for five years as it continues to indulge in subversive activities.
According to a Home Ministry notification, if the unlawful activities of SIMI are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will continue its subversive activities, re-organise its activists, who are still absconding, and disrupt the secular fabric of the country by propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionism.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby declares the SIMI as an ”unlawful association” and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years,” the notification said.
The Indian government describes it as a terrorist organization , and banned it in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks . The ban was lifted in August 2008 by a special tribunal, but was reinstated by Government of India on 6 August 2008 on national security grounds.
The third ban on SIMI was lifted by the Delhi High Court Tribunal on 5 August 2008. “Material given by the home ministry is insufficient, so ban cannot be continued,” Justice Geeta Mittal, a sitting Delhi High Court judge, said while lifting the ban. But the lifting of the ban was stayed by the supreme court of India on the next day itself (6 August 2008).
Until the ban in 2001, the 25 years old organization was known as a social and educational organization .Interestingly most of its members were acquitted by honorable courts after spending many years in prison including its president Dr Shahid Badr Falahi.