Hindu outfits seek ban on Dr Zakir Naik in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: Leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP), Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV), Bajrang Dal and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have urged the city police and Dakshina Kannada district administration not to give permission for Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's programme in the city. South Karnataka Salafi Movement (SKSM) in association with other organisations are planning to hold a convention in the city on January 3 with Zakir Naik, who is a noted an Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, will be the main speaker. VHP zonal working president M B Puranik said that the convention involving Zakir Naik as keynote speaker will destabilize the communal harmony in the region. "Zakir Naik has been making derogatory speeches by mocking Hindu gods. He has been speaking against Hindu religious practices including idol worship. He has spoken against our nation and law. Moreover, he has shown disrespect to patriotic song 'Vande Mataram' and called upon Muslims not to sing it. Communal harmony in the region may be destabilized if he speaks against Hindu religion and the nation in Mangaluru," Puranik said. The district administration and police should not give jpermission for the organisers to hold convention involving Zakir Naik as speaker, he said. "We are not against any religious programmes of Muslims. However, we oppose Zakir Naik's programme as he speaks against Hindutva and the nation," Puranik said and added that VHP has plans to hold a convention in Mangaluru on January 6. "VHP international working president Pravin Togadia will be in Mangaluru on January 6 after his visits to Sringeri and Udupi. We have plans to hold a convention in Mangaluru with Togadia as main speaker. However, we have not finalized the programme schedule," Puranik said adding that Togadia's speeches are against terrorists and anti-nationals. HJV state co-convener Sathyajith Surathkal said that no one has the right to malign another religion. "Zakir Naik has been maligning Hindu religion. We will hold protest if the district administration and police allow Zakir Naik to speak in the city. Government will be responsible for any untoward incidents if Zakir Naik makes a hate speech," Sathyajith said. -TOI