Days after the government imposed a ban on Zakir Naik's NGO, the Islamic Research Fund, the controversial leader has hit back.
The Home Ministry had accused Naik of promoting enmity and religious hatred. Naik, on the other hand, claimed on Friday that his side of the story was not heard before the ban was imposed.
He said that he received no notice, summons or calls. Nor was any investigation done prior to the ban. He also said he kept offering help but it was never taken, news agency ANI reported.
Touting the ban as a communal decision to attack Indian Muslims, Naik asked why a ban wasn’t imposed on Sadhvi Prachi or Yogi Adityanath?
Naik also said that the ban has left him with no option but to take legal action against it.
Earlier in the day, the NGO found itself amidst another controversy. As per a report published in The Indian Express, Zakir’s NGO had planned to donate Rs 75 lakh and not 50 lakh to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT). The remaining Rs 25 lakh was to be transferred through a hospital in Mumbai. However, the hospital spent the amount instead of transferring it.
The RGCT said it steered clear of any wrongdoings on its part. It even said that the amount was returned when there was a controversy over Naik’s activities.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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