Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has alleged that if then Congress led government had acted on time against Dr. Zakir Naik, many Muslim youth could have been prevented from being radicalised.
Dr. Zakir Naik has grabbed headlines for his alleged hate speeches which inspired terrorists involved in the Dhaka attacks. But the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had already raised objections against his provocative speeches and CDs, held protest demonstrations and even filed police complaints in the year 2012. FIRs have been lodged against Naik in Mumbai, Kolhapur, Sawantwadi and Akola. Despite this, the then Congress government failed to act against him. Moreover, K Rahman Khan (then Minister of Minority Affairs in the UPA government) even wrote a letter to Manish Tewari (then Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the UPA government) complaining that Dr Zakir Naik was being ‘defamed’ by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sudarshan TV. This letter, dated 15th February, 2013 has now been leaked.
Ramesh Shinde, National Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti said, “It is now clear that the burden of sin of having supported Naik lies on Congress. The death of innocents was preventable; had the government heeded to the Samiti’s complaints and acted in a timely fashion against Naik. Scores of Muslim youth could have been saved from being lured into terrorist activities and many acts of terror could have been prevented”.
“Why did K Rahman Khan misuse his post as the Minister of Minority Affairs to support anti-national man? Why did Manish Tewari sweep this issue under the carpet? Is national security the priority for Congress or minority appeasement? The nation demands an answer from the Congress. One cannot expect anything more from those who addressed bin-Laden as ‘Osamaji’,” he added.
According to the organisation, Dr Zakir Naik’s association with Pakistan based terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s Jamat-ud-Dawa is out in the open; he is notorious for his blasphemous speech against Hindu Deities; he has hailed bin-Laden and terrorist activities. Despite this, over the past two days many, including Owaisi, Abu Azmi, prominent Muslim organisations etc., have expressed their support for Dr Zakir Naik. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti exhorts them to clarify their stand on these grave issues.
“Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has always firmly opposed antinational forces like Dr Zakir Naik. But the power hungry Congress party, in bid to consolidate its minority votebank, first banned the Samiti’s website and is now hankering for a ban on the Samiti. Now it would be only fair to expect that the Modi government should act against the Congress party for its tacit support of those who advocate terrorism,” said Shinde.
Earlier the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) had protested at Dadar against Dr. Zakir Naik demanding immediate arrest for allegedly promoting terrorism. The Samiti demanded a thorough inquiry to be conducted in the affairs of Dr. Naik and his institution, and stringent action should be taken in the matter.
