Zakir Naik video: Congress leader Digvijay Singh in controversy
A 2012 video clip of Mr Singh addressing a huge crowd and hugging Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik at an event in Mumbai has gone viral.
Hyderabad / Visakhapatnam: AICC general secretary and party in-charge of Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh Digvijay Singh is embroiled in controversy again.
A 2012 video clip of Mr Singh addressing a huge crowd and hugging Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik at an event in Mumbai has gone viral. Dr Naik is under the scanner after the recent terror strike in Bangladesh as the perpetrators had apparently been motivated by his speeches.
Mr Singh, who was in Vizag to attend a party workers’ meeting on Thursday, while admitting that he had participated in the event hosted by the Islamic preacher, asked the BJP-led Union government to arrest Dr Naik if there was evidence of his having links with any terrorist organisation including the ISIS.
“I spoke at the Mumbai conference against communal forces of any religion, be it Islam or Hinduism,” he said.
As the issue went viral, Mr Singh said in a series of Tweets: “Eid Mubarak. Let no one disturb the communal harmony, the very ethos, the very idea of India.” “My speech at a conference organised by Zakir Naik is being shown. I spoke against religious fundamentalism and appealed for communal harmony. If GOI or the Govt of Bangladesh has any evidence against Zakir Naik’s involvement in ISIS they should take action against him.”
“The conference was for communal harmony and against terrorism. Also, to explain that Islam is against innocents being killed.” Union minister for urban development, information and broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi hinted at action against Dr Zakir Naik. “The home ministry will analyse everything,” Mr Naidu said, adding that the speeches of the preacher “were objectionable”.
He condemned the attacks in Bangladesh, saying that terrorism had no religion or region, and called for the entire world to unite against it. Mr Singh had praised Dr Naik in his speech at the 2012 event, saying, "“I am happy that you are spreading the message of peace across the world... you can build bridges between Hindus and Muslims. I congratulate you, I had heard about the power of your congregations, now I have seen it.”
BJP spokesman G.V.L. Narasimha Rao was quick to condemn the Congress leader’s links with the preacher. “I think he (Naik) really seems to have indulged in preaching that actually promoted terror... I think this is a matter of great concern,” he remarked.