I am ready to return to India if government asks but will not come back for media trial: Zakir Naik

Almost 25 days after he is blamed for "inspiring" two of the Dhaka attackers who killed 20 people at Holey Artisan Bakery, Zakir Naik today appeared for an interview from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Written by: Zeeshan Shaikh

Published: July 25, 2016, 9:49 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/i-am-ready-to-return-to-india-if-government-asks-but-will-not-come-back-for-media-trial-zakir-naik-1358684/ Copy

New Delhi, July 25: Controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who is being accused of “inspiring” Bangladesh attackers who killed over 20 people in a terror raid at a restaurant in Dhaka says he is ready to return to India to answer all questions by government agencies but will won’t come back for media trial, India Today reported.

Almost 25 days after he is blamed for “inspiring” two of the Dhaka attackers who killed 20 people at Holey Artisan Bakery, Zakir Naik today appeared for an interview from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Zakir Naik, banned in UK and Canada for his controversial speeches reportedly said, “I am a victim of media trial. I have heard many allegations against me in the Indian media”.

While replying on questions posed to him, whether he is afraid to come to India, the televangelist said, “I am not afraid at all. So far there has been not a single Indian government officials who had called me. Just because media has accused me of something. I am not going to come to India for a media trial”. (Also Read: Zakir Naik says he is a proud Indian Muslim, praises Narendra Modi)

He further claimed that he was never involved in spreading hatred among communities and said that all his speeches deal with communal harmony. He said that media has quoted him out of context and some of the clips aired by news channel were also doctored.

Since July 1 Bangladesh attack, Naik has been living in Saudi Arabia. He didn’t even came to India to celebrate Eid with his family who live in Mazgaon’s, Jasmine apartment in Mumbai. His office claimed that he was willing to come on July 11 but he suddenly changed his plans few days back.

Naik, who runs Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) from Dongri, Mumbai today said, he backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quest to improve relationships between Hindus and Muslims. He also said that so far Modi government has not bothered him.

Earlier Naik in an interview had said that, “If PM Modi is trying to build harmony between Hindus and Muslims, I am all for it”.