The new information and broadcasting minister, M Venkaiah Naidu, had called Naik’s speeches, as being reported in the media, as highly objectionable.
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Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday demanded an immediate ban on Islamic preacher and scholar Zakir Naik, who is under scanner after the Dhaka terror strike. In his defence, he said that his comments and speeches have been doctored and are being taken out of context.
Dr Zakir has denied al-Qaeda’s role in the 9/11 attacks and claimed they were orchestrated by the USA government. Nayek, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in the United Kingdom and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions.
Meanwhile, police have been deployed outside the city office of Naik’s foundation. I agree I do inspire people close to Islam, but every fan may not follow everything what I say.
Surjewala said the NDA Government should take decisive action against Naik or any other individual or organisation found indulging in anti-India activities. They also read and watch the same newspapers and TV channels — we all do! Islamic State tweeted photos of the murdered victims while the siege was in progress and published photos of five attackers, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.
It has also emerged that the Daesh’s Hyderabad module chief Ibrahim Yazdani, who was arrested recently by the National Investigating Agency, had allegedly attended a 10-day conclave organised by Naik.
Naik, now in Saudi Arabia, was called to the ATS’ Byculla office a few weeks after the blast, added Raghuvanshi, who retired from the police force a year ago.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of their march, Muhammad Aamir, 35, a supporter said: “He is a renowned Islamic scholar who has always condemned terrorism”. He added that India has good relations with Bangladesh, especially with regard to fighting terrorism.
Naik, already banned in the United Kingdom, Canada and Malaysia, in his lecture aired on Peace TV, an worldwide Islamic channel, had reportedly “urged all Muslims to be terrorists”. “There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged one to kill another, whether Muslim or non-Muslim”, Naik said.
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Official sources said under orders from Home Minister Rajnath Singh, “the NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) will face mandatory provisions under the rules of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) as it is a registered organisation”.
