Demanding action against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who has come under the scanner after the Dhaka terror attacks, the Shiv Sena on Monday asked the government to block his social media websites with immediate effect as it might disturb the law and order situation in the country.
“The allegations that are there against him are of very serious nature and this can lead to a law and order situation in the country. Therefore, the government needs to block his social media, his website, speeches from the YouTube, whatever it is, it should be blocked. The government has to take immediate action against this,” Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande said.
Acknowledging that the Islamic preacher’s speeches were provocative, she said this is normally what happens when an accused or when a person who has serious allegations against him takes the support of social media or the people from his community.
Naik earlier on Saturday sought support from the Muslim community against what he called was a “media trial” over allegedly provocative statements promoting militant views that have triggered calls for his arrest.
Introducing a new Twitter handle — @drzakirofficial – the Mumbai-based preacher also appealed to people around the world to “eliminate terrorism from our midst”.
Naik has come under the scanner of the Indian Government after reports emerged that two of the six terrorists, who killed 22 people in a posh Dhaka café last week, were allegedly inspired by his speeches.
Naik, 51, founder of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), also introduced his new Twitter handle on his Facebook page.
Within an hour of Naik’s appeal, his Facebook post had more than 6,000 likes.
According to reports, several Indian youth who have taken to militancy are also believed to have been “inspired” by Naik’s speeches made at public functions and through his television channel Peace TV.
