Hyderabad: Under attack over alleged links with controversial Islamic scholar Zakir Naik, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday alleged that he was being targeted by the right-wing outfits and questioned the double standards in BJP's approach towards the issue.
BJP has accused Singh of sharing the stage with Islamic preacher Zakir Naik who is in the midst of a controversy for his 'hate speech' reportedly inspiring one of the five militants involved in the recent terror attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Singh said that if prominent personalities like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shares stage with Naik they are declared to be nationalist and if he does it is declared anti-national.
"Is Zakir Naik a terrorist, is there a case against him, is he a criminal. When Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shares a stage with him that is 'nationalism', if Shri Rajnath Singh goes and visits Pragya Thakur, an accused in Malegaon bomb blast that is nationalism, and if I share the stage I am anti national. What kind of double standard is this," Singh told reporters.
Upon being asked about the relationship he shares with Zakir Naik, Singh told that the relationship with the Islamic preacher is same as the relationship Sri Sri Ravi Shankar shares with Naik.
"My relationship with Zakir Naik is same of what Sri Sri Ravishankar has got with Zakir Naik," he said.
Singh has landed in a soup after a 2012 video showing him sharing stage with Islamic preacher Zakir Naik at an event came to fore.
The video shows Digvijay Singh saying that people like Zakir Naik can bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims.
Zakir Naik is reportedly in Saudi Arabia for a religious pilgrimage and would return to India on July 11.
Naik, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of the Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in UK and Canada for his hate speeches.
He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that speeches of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik were being examined by the government and appropriate action will be taken.
"We have taken cognisance of Zakir Naik's speeches and necessary instructions have been issued in this regard. His speeches/CDs are being examined and whatever is justified will be done," Singh told the media here.
"As far as the government of India is concerned, we will not compromise on terrorism at any cost," he added.
Naik, founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in Britain and Canada for his hate speeches aimed against other religions.
