Dr Zakir Naik's speeches are highly objectionable, action will be taken: Govt

July 7, 2016

New Delhi, Jul 7: Internationally acclaimed orator an authority on comparative religion Dr Zakir Naik faced more heat today with Narendra Modi-led union government termed his speeches as "highly objectionable" and warned to take "appropriate action" against him.M-Venkaiah-Naidu

As Dr Naik came under the scanner, senior Congress leader Digivjaya Singh was in the BJP's line of fire after a 2012 video showing him share a dais with the 50-year-old Mumbai-based scholar praising him at an event to promote communal harmony surfaced today.

Security personnel were deployed outside Dr Naik's 'Islamic Research Foundation' office at Dongri area in South Mumbai as a precautionary measure in the wake of the escalating row over his alleged hate speeches.

"The Home Ministry will study (his speeches). It will take appropriate action after studying them. His speeches, as being reported in the media, are highly objectionable," the new Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in Delhi.

Naidu's remarks came a day after Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju hinted at action against the preacher after looking into whether Naik through his speeches glorifies terrorist acts by Muslims. Naik yesterday asserted that his speech on Islam and terror has been taken out of context and clarified that he had only said muslims should terrorise anti-social elements.

Digvijay Singh, who was seen praising Naik in the 2012 video, defended himself, saying if there was any evidence against the preacher, then the Indian and Bangladeshi governments should take action against him. In the video, Singh told Naik that he should take his message of peace world over.

"I have appealed for communal harmony and opposed religious fundamentalism and terrorism by either Hindus or Muslims," the Congress leader added.

However, BJP was quick to target Singh and also demanded action against Dr Naik, saying he was a "threat" to national security as it was clear from his speeches that he "incited" people.

"Terrorism is enemy of humanity. Anybody who directly or indirectly abets it is guilty. People like him (Naik) are a threat to our national security. Government agencies should decide on action against him under the existing legal system. It is clear that he incited people," party national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Coming to the defence of Singh, Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said his senior colleague has himself stated that he only appealed for peace, harmony and brotherhood.

Surjewala said the NDA government should take decisive action against Naik or any other individual or organisation found indulging in anti-India activities.

"There is no place in our society for obscurantist & extremist thoughts. Congress party has always fought the forces of hate and division who have threatened India's integrity," he added.

Comments

Yasir
 - 
Saturday, 9 Jul 2016

Illiterate politicians like you dont know what is Dr Zakir naik's caliber. Go and watch his speeches and you will be transformed from evil to good human. Many muslim countries and millions of europeans and americans watch his speeches and get inspired to folliw the right path. His followers include even the heads of many countries.

Well Wisher
 - 
Thursday, 7 Jul 2016

Before Mr.Zakir Naik's speech listen to Thogadia's any one speech and then decide who is danger to national security.

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News Network
May 29,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, May 29: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that fishing in Kerala coast and southeast Arabian Sea has been completely banned from Thursday midnight as the state is expected to receive rainfall early next month.

"India Meteorological Department (IMD) has informed that southwest monsoon will arrive in Kerala coast by the first week of June. The state will receive rainfall in the next five days. Fishing in Kerala coast and the southeast Arabian sea to be completely banned from midnight," Vijayan said.

On Thursday, the IMD announced that conditions are favourable in Kerala for the onset of the southwest monsoon on June 1.

"A low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea from May 31 to June 4, 2020. In view of this, conditions are very likely to become favourable from June 1, 2020 for the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala," the IMD said in its bulletin.

It also stated that the southwest monsoon has further advanced into some parts of Maldives-Comorin area, some more parts of south Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Andaman Sea and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. 

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Agencies
January 1,2020

Kanpur, Jan 1: In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The poem reads thus -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge."

It was the last line that has turned into a bone of contention. Translated into English, it means, 'When thrones will vanish, only Allah's name will remain' -- implying the misleading translation by the professor.

The poem had been written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: "In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which have obviously been misinterpreted -- "When all idols will be removed, only Allah's name will remain."

The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately."

Fifteen other students have also signed the complaint filed by the professor against the protesting students.

Meanwhile, IIT students have said that the faculty member who lodged the complaint has been banned on a social networking site for posting communal content.

In an article published on the IIT-Kanpur student media portal, the students clarified what exactly happened on the day of protest and how their chant was given a 'communal and misleading' turn. They stated that they had recited a few lines of the Faiz poem in reference to the police crackdown on the Jamia students.

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News Network
February 2,2020

New Delhi, Jan 2: India on Sunday reported the second case of novel coronavirus with a person from Kerala with a travel history to China testing positive, officials said.

"The patient has tested positive for novel coronavirus and is in isolation in a hospital," the health ministry said.

The patient is stable and is being closely monitored, it said.

India's first novel coronavirus case in India was also reported from Kerala with a student testing positive.

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