m. Naik frequently referred to a book written by Sri Sri called 'Hinduism and Islam', and distorted Sri Sri's message in the book." - Art of Living
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living (AOL) Foundation on Friday claimed that the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik had quoted verses from the Vedas out of context at a public discussion and also tried to insult Hinduism. 'Zakir Naik quoted verses from the Vedas out of context and tried to insult Hinduism and other idol-worshipping religions. His talk was misguiding and inciting people,' Art of Living said in a statement. It said Congress MLA Roshan Baig invited Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for a public discussion on 'The concept of God in Hindusim and Islam in the light of Sacred Scriptures' in 2006.
'Sri Sri was to talk about the Hinduism aspect whereas Zakir Naik on Islam. Naik frequently referred to a book written by Sri Sri called 'Hinduism and Islam', and distorted Sri Sri's message in the book,' it added. The statement further reads that the book highlighted the shared values between the two religions and sought to bring them together, adding that it had influenced many youth who were skeptical about Hinduism. 'This was not finding favour with Zakir Naik's philosophy of denigrating other religions. A couple of Muslim men, who seemed to have been asked by Zakir Naik to come on the mike, shared that they were pandits earlier and had now had become Muslims,' it said.
The Art of Living in its statement further said that the situation was charged with tension and in order to diffuse the situation, Sri Sri did not press any arguments but simply quoted a verse from Kabir.
'Pothi padh padh jag mua, pandit bhayo na koye, Dhai akshar prem ka, padhe so pandit hoye,' it added. The claims of the Art of Living comes amid reports that one of the terrorists who attacked an upmarket restaurant in the Bangladeshi capital a few days ago, killing 22 people, was inspired by sermons of the 50-year-old Mumbai-based Islamic scholar.
Naidu promises action against Zakir Naik
Meanwhile, calling Zakir Naik's speeches 'highly objectionable', Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Home Ministry will take appropriate action after studying them. 'The Home Ministry will study (his speeches). It will take appropriate action after studying them. His speeches, as being reported in the media, are highly objectionable,' Naidu told the media. Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik today faced probes by the Centre that covered foreign funding of his NGO Islamic Research Foundation(IRF) and the CDs of his speeches that were reported to have inspired some of the Dhaka attackers.
The move by the Centre came a day after the Maharashtra government ordered a probe into the sermons by the 50-year-old televangelist that has kicked up a storm. The activities of the IRF came under the scanner of the Union Home Ministry amid allegations that funds from abroad received by it have been spent on political activities and inspiring people towards radical views. A senior Home Ministry official said an investigation has been ordered into the activities of IRF, which was registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The Home Ministry probe will cover the allegations that foreign funding to IRF was used in political activities and allegations that the NGO's funds were used to induce people towards Islam and "attracting" youths towards terror, the official said.
All such activities are contrary to the FCRA provisions and any violation invites punitive action. IRF's source of foreign funding will also be examined thoroughly by the Home Ministry, the official said.
An online petition has been filed with the Home Ministry listing all the allegations against IRF as well as Naik.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said CDs of Naik's speeches are being examined for necessary action and asserted that the government will not compromise on the issue of terrorism.
"We have taken cognisance of Zakir Naik's speeches and have given necessary instructions for a probe. A thorough investigation will be done.
"CDs of his speeches are being examined," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The Home Minister said necessary action will be taken in this regard.
"As far as government is concerned, we will not compromise on terrorism at any cost. Whatever is justified will be done," he said.
Officials said according to an intelligence report the content of the "Peace TV", in which Naik regularly appears and gives sermons, is "not conducive" to the security environment in the country and poses "security hazard".
Naik yesterday released a statement, saying he "totally disagreed" that he inspired the act of killing innocent people in Dhaka. "There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged one to kill another, whether Muslim or non-Muslim." Naik's speeches are believed to have inspired some of the Bangladeshi militants, who killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka last Friday.
Hitting back at BJP for targeting him over sharing dais with Naik, Congress leader Digvijay Singh raked up the issue of Rajnath Singh's alleged meeting with 2008 Malegaon blast accused Pragya Thakur.
He also posed a question to the ruling BJP, wondering what it would say about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar sharing the stage with Naik.
"I am being criticised for sharing stage with Zakir Naik but what about Rajnath Singh ji meeting bomb blast accused Pragya Thakur?", Singh tweeted
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 "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Zakir Naik")
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