A day after the BJP attacked Congress leader Digvijay Singh over a video grab showing him sharing the dais with controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, a video showing Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sharing the stage with the same preacher has gone viral. The video shows the Art of Living founder attending am Islamic Research Foundation programme with Zakir Naik. The video footage was posted on social media by Maharashtra PCC secretary Shehzad Poonawalla.
While Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reiterated that a “proper probe will be conducted in this matter and that “there’ll be no compromise on terrorism”, Mr Digvijay Singh hit back at the BJP, asking what it would say about Ravi Shankar sharing the stage with Zakir Naik. Making it clear that the government will come down hard on terrorism, the home minister said, “We have taken cognisance of Zakir Naik’s speeches and have given necessary instructions for a probe. A thorough investigation will be done.”
The preacher, who tried to clarify his position after the attack by saying he was “against any form of terrorism”, could be in trouble as the home minister said “CDs of his speeches are being examined” and added, “As far as government is concerned, we will not compromise on terrorism at any cost. Whatever is justified will be done.” There are reports that an investigation has been ordered into the activities of his Islamic Research Foundation under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). An online petition has been filed with the Union home ministry listing all the allegations against the IRF as well as Mr Naik.
The Mumbai-based preacher might find himself in trouble after it was reported that his speeches had inspired some of the Dhaka cafe attackers. Under attack, the preacher on his Facebook account posted various pictures and remarks condemning ISIS and terrorism. Trying to defend himself, Mr Naik had released a statement saying he “totally disagreed” that he inspired the act of killing innocent people in Dhaka. “There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged one to kill another, whether Muslim or non-Muslim,” he said.
That neither the Maharashtra government nor the Centre was swayed by these posts became evident when Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has asked the Mumbai police commissioner to “conduct a probe into Naik’s speeches and submit a report”. The preacher’s speeches, his social media accounts and the sources of funding of a foundation run by him in Mumbai will be scrutinised, the chief minister said.
