Zakir Naik escaped from scrutiny thanks to UPA's 'appeasement' policy: Shiv Sena

Mumbai, July 8 (ANI): Acknowledging that the Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's speeches are provocative, the Shiv Sena party on Friday asked the central government to ban him from entering India and also accused the UPA Government for letting him escape from scrutiny. "He should be arrested and banned from entering into India and his channel also should be banned," Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande told ANI. She further stated that it was because of erstwhile UPA's "appeasement policy" towards minorities that Naik escaped from all kinds of scrutiny. "Several times in the past also objections has been raised regarding the activities and the speeches of Zakir Naik, but the erstwhile UPA government did not bother about it, rather they took it lightly and since they had always followed the policy of appeasement towards the minorities, hence Mr Zakir Naik escaped from these activities," she said. Earlier today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that a proper probe will be conducted into Naik's speech. "We have taken cognizance of Zakir Naik's speeches and necessary instructions have been issued in this regard. His (Zakir Naik) speeches, CDs are being examined and whatever is justified will be done," Rajnath told the media here. He further added that as far as the Government was concerned, it will not compromise on terrorism at any cost. Zakir Naik is reportedly in Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage and would return to India on July 11. Naik, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in UK and Canada for his hate speeches. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia. (ANI)