Zakir Naik aims to spread hatred, create instability: Sena edit

In a scathing attack on the chief of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) Dr Zakir Naik, the Shiv Sena on Monday claimed his main objective was to spread hatred in the minds of people, make the country unstable and indulge in terrorism and caste conversion to make India an Islamic state.

The Sena said that Mr Naik’s contention that it would be injustice against 20 crore Muslims of the country if he were banned was a ploy to threaten the police department from from taking any action against him and avoid public backlash. “If Zakir Naik had not been exposed after the Dhaka carnage, he would have continued with his ‘peace’ work uninterrupted,” the Sena said, in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana.

“Their policy is to defeat Hindutva and establish an Islamic rule here. They use all tactics ranging from terrorism to caste conversions,” it said. Taking a dig at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the edit said he was quick to respond to Kapil Sharma’s allegation of corruption by civic officials; tomorrow, he may even respond for Mr Naik, considering several Islamic states across the world are caretakers of people like him.

“Naik’s statement that action against him would amount to injustice against all Muslims is a ploy to threaten authorities,” the Sena said. Mr Naik, in his letter, had stated that if he and IRF were to be banned, “..this ban will set a precedence of unspeakable injustices against the 20 crore Muslims of India. This action will embolden and encourage every fringe element in the country to do as they please.”