No links between Naik, terror outfits, govt tells House

No links between the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and terrorist organisations have come to notice, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, said reports indicated that some known terrorists have reportedly been inspired by Naik, the president of IRF.

He said IRF was registered under the Foreign Contributions Regulations Act, 2010, and foreign contributions and their utilisation were checked. In case of violations, Ahir said, action will be taken under the provisions of the Act.

On Peace TV run by Naik, the minister said the channel was not a permitted satellite channel for transmission on the cable network and hence cannot be aired by cable operators.

On July 28, the government had told the Rajya Sabha that complaints were received recently that Peace TV was being shown by some cable operators in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and Aurangabad in Maharashtra and details were provided to the district authorities for action.

Naik had hit the headlines after it emerged that one of the five Bangladeshi terrorists who carried out an attack on a Dhaka restaurant in July was inspired by the Mumbai-based preacher who was trained as a doctor. Following this, the government agencies started investigating whether he had links with any terror organisations.

The Ministry of Home Affairs also started a probe into the activities of IRF following allegations that foreign funds were misused for political activities and to induce people towards Islam. IRF is claimed to have received around Rs 15 crore between 2006 and 2011.