Preacher's foundation playing "active role" in terror: Sanjay Raut

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut today alleged in Rajya Sabha that controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation was playing an active role in encouraging "terror" in the country.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Raut said while the Home Ministry repeatedly said that ISIS had very limited influence in India, the "facts" coming to light suggest that poison was being spread among youth.

He claimed that 21 youths, including five women and three children, who had disappeared from Kerala had gone to Afghanistan and joined ISIS.

The cause of concern was that five among those who went to Afghanistan, had changed their religion.

"After changing religion, they had straightaway joined ISIS and became terrorists. Who is doing this? ... Zakir Naik's name figured in Bangladesh terror attack. His organisation Islamic Research Foundation is playing an active role, a big game in encouraging terror in the country," the Shiv Sena member alleged.

Early last month, Naik had reportedly denied his involvement in the Dhaka attacks and called the Islamic State "un-Islamic".

Raut said the recent arrests from different parts of the country showed that ISIS has spread its network.

He also alleged that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen had spread its network in parts of West Bengal and was targeting unemployed youths to join them.