New Delhi, July 7 : Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said speeches of Islamic preacher and Salafi ideologue Zakir Naik are objectionable, indicating the government may take action against him.
“The Home Ministry will analyse everything,” Naidu said, adding that speeches of Naik “are objectionable”.
A controversial preacher, Zakir Naik recently hit the headlines following revelation that two out of five young militants who attacked a popular cafe in Dhakha on July 1 drew their inspiration from his speeches.
Young militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, posted a message on Facebook last year quoting Peace TV’s preacher Naik “urging all Muslims to be terrorists”.
Condemning the attacks in Bangladesh, Naidu said terrorism has no religion or region and called for the entire world to unite against it.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday indicated that the government was contemplating action against Naik, saying it was a “matter of law” and the agencies concerned will take “appropriate action”.
Naik, founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in the United Kingdom and Canada for his alleged hate speeches aimed against other religions.
PTI adds
Maharashtra government has asked Mumbai Police to conduct a probe into controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s speeches amid reports that his sermons inspired one of the terrorists involved in the attack on a restaurant in Dhaka.
“I have asked the Mumbai Police Commissioner to conduct a probe (into Naik’s speeches) and submit a report,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told PTI today.
Everything, including Naik’s speeches, his social media accounts, sources of funding (of a foundation run by him in Mumbai) will be scrutinised, said Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.
The direction comes amid reports that one of the terrorists who attacked an upmarket restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital a few days ago, killing 22 people, was inspired by sermons of the 50-year-old Mumbai-based Islamic scholar.
Naik has denied propagating terrorism in any way.
“I totally disagree (with suggestion) that I inspired this act of killing innocent people. There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged anyone to kill another persons - Muslim or non-Muslim,” said Naik, who has been banned in a few countries.
