UP Congress VP vouches for preacher Naik

LUCKNOW: A Congress MLA in Uttar Pradesh, Imran Masood, batted for controversial preacher Zakir Naik on Monday, saying he had never supported terrorism.
The state Congress vice-president added that Naik was the victim of a witch-hunt by the media and security agencies. “The government should first arrest Sadhvi Prachi for her anti-Muslim remarks,“ he said.
Masood has himself courted controversy over offensive language as well, having been arrested in 2014 for hate speech aimed at the then PM-hopeful Narendra Modi.“Have you heard Sadhvi Prachi's speeches? Don't they incite one community against the other? But no action is taken against her. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent,“ Masood said.
The country is passing through its most dangerous phase under the Modi government, he added, saying there was an urgent need to restore communal harmony. A member of Samajwadi Party till 2013, Masood said there was “a tacit understanding“ between the party and Narendra Modi.