India

UP Govt issues show-cause notice to school after calling Zakir Naik ‘important personality’ in a book

Inquiry has been ordered against a school in Aligarh after they showed the image of the islamic preacher Zakir Naik categorized as ‘an important Islamic personality’, reported the Times of India.

The Education Department of the state has issued a show-cause notice to the Islamic Mission School in Masud Nagar area of Aligarh.

The text book, ‘Ilm-un-Nafe’ is, incidentally, not a part of the syllabus of the said school.

The report mentioned that a three member committee has been formed to look into the matter.

“The committee has been given a week’s time to submit its report. The process of cancelling the recognition of the school will be initiated after receiving the report,” Dhirendra Kumar Yadav, an official of the Education Department told The Times of India.

However, the school authorities have said that there is no separate chapter on Naik and it’s a general awareness book.

“There is no separate chapter on Zakir Naik in the book. This general awareness book was published in 2015, when there was nothing against Naik. This was the old edition and now it has been modified,” said Kaunain Kausar, manager of the school.

In November 2017, the NIA had registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Naik’s Mumbai-based NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has been declared an “unlawful association” by the Government of India.

However the interpol recently cancelled New Delhi’s request for a red-corner notice against Naik that could have restricted his international travel.

Interpol’s official communication indicated the main reason for accepting Zakir Naik’s demand to cancel the red request was linked to India jumping the gun and making a “premature” request.

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