In a resolute stand against terrorism, Home Minister Amit Shah declared on Monday that the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been extended by another five years, designating it as an “unlawful association” under the stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This decision deepens the government’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance against terrorism, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
Amit Shah took to social media platform X, stating, “Bolstering PM @narendramodi Ji’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism, ‘Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)’ has been declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under the UAPA.” Shah emphasized that SIMI’s involvement in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace, and threatening the sovereignty, security, and integrity of Bharat necessitated this stringent measure.
The decision received recommendations from 10 state governments, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. These states advocated for the declaration of SIMI as an “unlawful association” under the UAPA, showing widespread concern about the organization’s activities.
According to the Union Home Ministry’s notification, SIMI has persisted in its subversive activities and is actively reorganizing its members who are still missing. The ministry expressed its concern, stating, “The SIMI has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country, disturbing peace and communal harmony, and disrupting the secular fabric of the country.” Considering these concerns, the central government found it necessary to declare SIMI an unlawful association for an additional five years with immediate effect
This is not the first time that SIMI has faced such a ban; it was previously banned on February 1, 2014, for a period of five years under the UPA government. The organization has been linked to various terror acts, including the 2017 blasts in Gaya, the 2014 Chinnaswamy stadium bombing in Bangalore, and the jailbreak in Bhopal in the same year.
Established on April 25, 1977, in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, SIMI operates with the alleged agenda of transforming India into an Islamic state. The organization faced its first ban in 2001 during the Atal Bihar Vajpayee government, and since then, the ban has been routinely extended every five years.
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