New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that speeches of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik were being examined by the government and appropriate action will be taken.
Zakir Naik is under the scanner following reports that two of the five young terrorists who massacred 20 hostages, including an Indian, at a popular cafe in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on July 1, drew their inspiration from his speeches.
"We have taken cognisance of Zakir Naik's speeches and necessary instructions have been issued in this regard. His speeches/CDs are being examined and whatever is justified will be done," Mr Singh told the media in New Delhi.
"As far as the government of India is concerned, we will not compromise on terrorism at any cost," he added.
Zakir Naik, founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in Britain and Canada for his hate speeches aimed against other religions.
One of the Bangladeshi attackers, suspected to be Rohan Imtiaz – the son of a politician of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League – ran a propaganda on Facebook last year quoting 50-year-old Zakir Naik, a Mumbai-based doctor and an Islamic televangelist, Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Daily Star’ reported.
He is hugely popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV, although his preachings often demean other religions and even other Muslim sects, the report said.
Yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that Naik’s speeches are “highly objectionable”. “”The Home Ministry will study (his speeches). It will take appropriate action after studying them. His speeches, as being reported in the media, are highly objectionable,” Naidu said.
IANS inputs
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