Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government on Wednesday indicated taking action against peace activist Dr Zakir Naik after media reports claimed that he was followed by one of the five Bangladeshi militants, who killed 22 people at a restaurant in Dhaka recently.
"Zakir Naik's speech is a matter of concern for us. Our agencies are working on this. But as a minister, I will not comment what action will be taken," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told reporters in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has reportedly started examining the speeches of Zakir Naik. The officials have been asked to be extra cautious and be very specific with the facts regarding the popular orator, a report said on Wednesday.
A senior government official told a news paper in India that the NIA sleuths have been directed to investigate whether Zakir Naik advocates any terrorist outfit or justifies terrorism with his speeches.
Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Star' had recently reported that militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, ran a propaganda on Facebook last year quoting Zakir Naik. The report also alleged that Zakir Naik's preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects.
Ironically, the newspaper falsely quoted Zakir Naik and said that he had urged all Muslims to be terrorists, which is obviously a baseless and false allegation. Similar reports were published in several other news papers across the world to link Zakir Naik with Bangladeshi terrorists.
Zakir Naik is hugely popular in the Indian sub-continent with millions of followers globally. The MBBS graduate, who calls himself a student of comparative religion, is known for quoting verses from Quran, Bible, Vedas and many other holy scriptures as well as presenting scientific arguments in his public speeches.
Zakir Naik runs Peace TV which mostly beams his lectures on Islam and comparative religion. He is the president of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation. Naik's profile on Peace TV website describes him as an international orator who clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Quran, authentic Hadith and other religious scriptures as a basis, in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts.'
In fact Dr Zakir Naik has openly condemned all kinds of terrorism and always argued that peaceful dialogue between scholars of different religion could eradicate their misunderstandings.
Comments
Funny things there is more n more aligation expected n come against Mr.Zakir Naik n no surprise. Real terrorist n communal people always act behind screep. What happens to 9/11.is America or the rest of take any action. They jumped on Afghanistan who r not real. Now some peace loving prominent group n leaders in America giving statements.
From the very next day it was understood by whole world the master mind n the fact Israel Jews planned with full material. Only plain fuel not sufficient to burn such big n mighty strong building.
Popularity of Zakir Naik all over the world and there is no scholar to face against zakir bhai has become the problem for other religions.
When opposition is weak to face zakir, they used terrorism as weopons to attack on zakir. In India many has been proved guilty for riots and terrorism but they has been selected in the cabinet.
Non-muslims pundit lost to zakir bhai in debate. No one have the ability to challenge zakir, they are utilising terrorism to hide their impotency.
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