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Zakir Naik’s press meet which was scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled again. The reasons for the cancellation are not yet known.
Zakir Naik, who is accused of inspiring terrorists by his speeches, was supposed to hold a press conference on Thursday, 11:30 am, at the Mehfil Hall in Agripada, Mumbai. Naik would have addressed the media via Skype.
Before the last-minute cancellation, there were doubts about whether the televangelist will hold the press meet as hotel owners were under pressure to cancel bookings made for the conference, claimed Naik’s media manager, Aarif Malik.
At least four hotels cancelled after confirming availability and taking our booking. We have already sent media invites and now they (one of the venues) cancelled booking citing ‘power breakdown’. Imagine a world-class complex not having a power back-up.Aarif Malik, Zakir Naik’s Media Manager
Naik had gone to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage and was supposed to return on Monday, 11 July. He had announced that he would address a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, 12 July. But he changed his plans and reportedly went to Africa instead.
The announcement of his Skype press conference came after he finally received support from political parties like All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) from Kerala and Samajwadi Party.
Naik came under the scanner after it emerged that one of the attackers in the Dhaka siege was his follower. Office bearers of his UK-based charity Islamic Research Foundation were earlier questioned, and the Ministry of Home Affairs is also reportedly probing his finances.
He is known for the controversial sermons on his television channel Peace TV.
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