"Modi govt will fail in its plans": Zakir Naik vows to fight injustice

NEW DELHI: Terming the five-year ban on Islamic Research Foundation as an attack on "Muslims, peace, democracy and justice," controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik today said he will pursue all legal options to get the ban repealed and that the judiciary will fail the Modi government in its 'plans'. Naik said the ban was timed with the "demonetisation fiasco" to avert resistance and divert media attention. The central government has recently banned the IRF and declared it as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for five years. "I have faith in the judiciary and I still believe that truth will prevail and the Modi government will fail in its plans. But whatever the outcome, I strongly believe that the best efforts to quash my work will only help it rise higher and stronger, Naik, 51, said in an open letter. Naik has been booked along with unnamed IRF officials under section 153-A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA. "Before investigations were done, even before reports submitted, the ban was already decided. IRF was to be banned. Whether it was owing to my religion or some other reason, does not matter. What now matters is that my work of 25 years completely lawful work has been banned. And that is the most unfortunate thing for this country," Naik said in his letter. "From the government's point of view, the timing itself could not have been better. The decision to ban IRF was taken in the middle of the demonetisation fiasco, as the country reeled under the self-imposed cash crunch. I won't be surprised if this ban was meant to distract media from what was going on in the country. For the public that is starved for cash, for trade and basic amenities, one cannot expect much of resistance," he stated. Talking about UAPA, Naik said, "The law does not seem to apply to the likes of Rajeshwar Singh, Yogi Adityanath and Sadhvi Prachi who continue to make inflammatory speeches aimed at inciting communal hatred for mere political mileage. Rajeshwar Singh of Dharm Jaagran Manch recently made a televised statement that 31st December 2021 will be the last day for Islam and Christianity in India and that he and his associates have taken an oath to end Islam and Christianity from India before 31st December 2021. Don’t such statements and many more by fanaticslike Sadhvi Prachi and Yogi Adityanath require them to be arrested and tried under UAPA?." "Leave aside legal action, the government has neither condemned their actions nor reprimanded them. Is this draconian law mainly meant for Muslims? Does the UAPA now exist mainly to silence minority groups?" Naik asked. "Let us not be gullible to think this was just an attack on me. It is an attack on whom I represent, the Indian Muslims. It is an attack on peace, democracy and justice. I will pursue all legal options to repeal this ban," the IRF founder said. "India is my home, my roots, and I will fight this ban come what may. God-willing, I will pursue all legal options to repeal this ban. Because Islam has taught me not to let an injustice go by. I will fight, be sure of that," "The country’s democratic fabric is under attack. People’s lives are being played with. Governments are misusing their authority on people they’re supposed to protect. This needs to change. It needs to change for the future of every one of us," he said. The preacher said, "This must be the most unique ban to be applied in the history of India, because not a single time was I questioned or given a chance to explain. Not a single chance. No notice, no summons, no calls and no contact ever made with me to get my side of the story. I kept offering my help in investigation but it wasn’t taken. The entire investigation was completed without any agency asking me a single question about my so called ‘wrongdoings’. But then why would they? My participation in the investigation process would have cleared up the air and exonerated me, which wasn’t acceptable to the government." (With inputs from PTI)