Controversial televangelist Zakir Naik, who is the subject of multiple inquiries in India over allegedly incendiary speeches, has said he will not return to India this year. The preacher, based in Mumbai but now in Saudi Arabia, said in a Skype press conference his morning, "I am not running away". He said that it was always his intent to spend most of this year abroad, and insisted that so far, no Indian official or agency has contacted him with queries.
Bangladesh has accused the 50-year-old doctor of inspiring the young men who killed 20 hostages at a Dhaka cafe earlier this month.
Both the Centre and the Maharashtra government have launched investigations to determine whether his speeches, streamed online and aired on a television channel, urge or justify acts of terror. Peace TV broadcasts out of Dubai and is banned in India. After the Dhaka attack, the government has moved to crackdown on cable operators who continue to make it available.
Dr Naik has delayed his return several times to Mumbai since the Bangladesh attack.
"My statements were taken out of context... I am a messenger of peace," he said, refuting the allegation that his speeches have provoked terror.
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