A letter allegedly written by Congress Minister, seeking the government's protection for controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik against the campaign run by a regional channel and a Hindu group during UPA regime has goes viral on social Media.
Naik is wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection to his alleged role in terror cases. The National Investigation Agency had registered a case against Naik under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) last year.
Congress Minister Rahman Khan had reportedly written a letter to Minister of State (MoS) for Information & Broadcasting Manish Tiwari on February 15, 2013, terming Naik as a 'renowned Islamic scholar.'
"I enclose a letter dated 3, December, 2012, from Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai, seeking protection from a campaign by Sudarshan TV and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti to allegedly defame Dr. Zakir Naik, a renowned Indian Islamic Scholar and President, Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai," the letter reads, which has now surfaced on social media.
"To support the contention, the Foundation has also sent a pack of 2 CDs enclosed along with the letter. " Khan said.
The then Congress minister also stated that as indicated in the letter, the aforementioned news agencies have seemingly resorted to project Dr. Zakir Naik as a sympathiser of terrorism for vested interests.
"I would, therefore, request you to kindly look into the matter in order to prevent any confrontation between communities and flaring up of communal sentiments," he added.
Last month, the special NIA court issued a non-bailable warrant against Naik. Another city court had also issued an NBW against Naik in a case of money laundering registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him. The ED lawyer had said Naik was believed to be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Naik, 51, left India last year, allegedly to evade arrest after some perpetrators of Dhaka terror attack claimed they were inspired by him.
Following the Dhaka attack, the NIA had registered a case against him and some officials of his organisation, Islamic Research Foundation, under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and the UAPA.
