Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Jul 15: "By targetting Dr Zakir Naik, the RSS-backed union government has suppressed the right to speech guaranteed in the Constitution," alleged Shafi Bellare, state secretary of Popular Front of India.
He was addressing a protest jointly held by various Muslim organizations in front of the DC's office here on Friday July 15 against the union government for 'targetting' preacher Dr Zakir Naik and his Peace TV in the wake of claims that one of the attackers in the recent bomb blast in Bangladesh was 'influenced' by his speeches.
"The probe into Dr Zakir Naik's activities is a continuation of the agenda to divide the people on the basis of religion by spreading hatred against a community. The Indian Constitution has given the right to practice one's religion and live freely. It is a conspiracy to divide the country on the basis of religion.
"It is also a part of the agenda of certain vested interests of making India a Hindu nation. We are supporting Zakir Naik not because he is a Muslim but because he is an Indian," he said.
"Many media are polarising the issue. Instead of joining the hearts of the people, the media is breaking people's hearts. Instead of dividing the country the media must work to unite the nation," he opined.
"Today Islam is being targeted as responsible for the acts of ISIS. None of the Muslim organisations support ISIS. Islam always supports the needy and the ones subjected to exploitation. Hence it seems as if RSS and the ISIS are walking on the same track.
"People of all religions must come together to oppose the organisations that are destroying the peace-loving fabric of the nation," he urged.
President of Karnataka Muslim Parishad Hameed Kandak said, "The union government is trying to scare the Muslims by jailing members of their community just because they are Muslims. It is an attempt to divide the country on the basis of religion. Our talented youth are jailed on the pretext that they are 'terrorists'. It is a conspiracy by the BJP and the RSS to weaken Islam. If you arrest one Zakir Naik, a thousand Zakir Naiks will emerge.
"All the Muslims in the country must get united against this. An attempt is being made to divide us," he said.
President of Muslim Lekhakara Sangha Umar U H said, "We are not here to accept all the ideas of Zakir Naik nor are we here to condemn all the media. We are here to oppose 'terrorists in the media' who brand every Muslim youth as terrorists when they are arrested. I urge all the media persons to stop cooking false stories against Islam and not to act as police and the judges; rather do the job assigned to you."
Convener of district United Muslim Organisations Athaulla welcomed the gathering. President of district union of Muslim organisations K Ashraf, President of SKSM Ismail Shafi, Saif Sultan from Hope foundation and others were present at the occasion.