JOIN USProbe into Islamic preacher's speech
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday sought a probe into the speeches of Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik.
There has been a growing demand for action against Naik after it emerged that some of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka attack were inspired by the Mumbai-based preacher.
Fadnavis has asked Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar to submit a report.
Naik, founder of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV, is currently aborad and is expected to be back in Mumbai on July 10 or 11.
Report
"I have asked the police to conduct an inquiry and submit a report at the earliest," the chief minister said. The probe will scrutinise Naik's speeches, writings, visits and source of funds.
This is not the first time Naik is facing a probe for inflammatory speeches. Earlier in the day, Mumbai-based Raza Academy staged a protest outside the IRF office at Dongri. Following this, security was beefed up at the office. "Terrorism in any form is condemnable and should be seen in the eyes of law, irrespective of caste and creed. Zakir Naik's funding from Saudi Arabia needs to be closely scrutinised. People attached to his organisation need to be questioned to understand his role in the light of the statements about terrorists being inspired by him," academy founder-secretary Mohammed Saeed Noorie said. “We have undertaken a protest against Zakir Naik for his inflammatory speeches...what he promotes....this is not the way Islam is taught or spread," he said.
He voiced concern about the spate of terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. "Islam is a religion of peace, it teaches peace. Those who are carrying out terror attacks are not Muslims. Zakir Naik should be banned as his speeches are controversial and inflammatory," Noorie said.