Amid reports of Qatar inviting controversial Islamic preacher and Indian fugitive Zakir Naik to the FIFA World Cup, Goa BJP spokesperson Savio Rodrigues has appealed to the government and Indian Football Associations to boycott the sports event. Naik, a televangelist, reportedly left India in 2016 and moved to Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. India had sent a request to Malaysia for his extradition. Rodrigues in a statement on Tuesday said, "Zakir Naik is a wanted man under the Indian law. He is charged with money laundering crimes and hate speeches." "He is a terror sympathiser. In fact, he is no less than a terrorist himself. He has openly supported terrorist Osama Bin Laden and has been instrumental is spreading Islamic radicalism and hate in India, the BJP leader stated. He appealed to the central government, Indian Football Associations, Indians in Qatar and those travelling to the host country to boycott the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is a global
Earlier in March, Home Ministry had declared Zakir Naik-founded Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association and banned it for five years
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday supported suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik had said the same thing earlier but no one asked him to apologise, Thackeray said while addressing a meeting of MNS functionaries here. Nobody asked Naik for an apology, the MNS chief said. Thackeray also slammed the Owaisi brothers (AIMIM leaders) for allegedly ridiculing the names of Hindu gods. No action has been taken against them, he said, using an abusive term while referring to them. The MNS chief also taunted his estranged cousin and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the latter's claim that the BJP reneged on the promise of rotating the CM's post after the 2019 Assembly elections in Maharashtra. When I was in Shiv Sena, Balasaheb (Thackeray) had decided that the party having more MLAs will have the CM post, he said. Also, during the election campaign, PM Narendra Mod
Malaysia was looking for a country except India to send Zakir Naik, but not many countries are willing to accept the controversial preacher
Hours after India's move, Prime Minister Imran Khan held phone conversation with Mahathir and sought support on the issue
Naik, a 53-year-old radical television preacher, reportedly left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to largely Muslim Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency
According to the ED probe report accessed by the PTI, the IRF maintained various bank accounts in which funds from the donors were being deposited and they were controlled by Zakir Naik
The preacher came under the lens of security agencies after some terrorists, allegedly involved in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July 2016, reportedly claimed they were inspired by his speeches
Naik, who left India in July, 2016, is wanted on terror and money laundering charges. In January, the MEA made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Naik
Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad last week said Naik would not be handed over to India as he had been granted permanent resident status
The Indian government said it is yet to receive an official confirmation from Malaysia with regards to Naik's extradition
Naik is being probed under terror and money laundering charges by the National Investigation Agency. He left India in July 2016 after the Dhaka terrorist attack.
Reports say India had asked for Naik to be sent back for allegedly inciting youth to engage in terror activities via his hate speeches
The controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India
'The news of my coming to India is totally baseless and false,' he said of reports claiming he would return to India tonight
The Indian government had banned Naik and his organisation Islamic Research Foundation for five years and declaring it an unlawful organisation.
The Islamic preacher is facing charges of incitement of terror activities, hate speeches among youth and money laundering
The NIA had on November 18, 2016, registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of IPC
The NIA had requested the External Affairs Ministry to revoke Naik's passport after he failed to respond to three summons
The Islamic preacher is wanted in connection with alleged terror-funding and money laundering cases