India wants Zakir Naik back: Jaishankar

The Narendra Modi government announced on Tuesday that India wants Zakir Naik, the controversial Islamic preacher, back and efforts are on to bring him back.

New Delhi: The Union Government on Tuesday said that India wants Islamic preacher Zakir Naik back and a request in this regard has already been sent to the Malaysian government.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing a press conference on completion of 100 days of the Modi 2.0 government here said the request has already been made and "we have been persistently and relentlessly pursuing this matter at all levels".

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad the issue of extradition of Zakir Naik, who is a fugitive in India and has taken shelter in Malaysia. Modi took up the matter with Mohamad during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia.

Naik is wanted in India for serious charges related to terrorism after his name cropped in connection with a ghastly terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016.

The Mumbai-born 53-year-old founder of the controversial 'Peace TV' has been living in Malaysia since 2017 after fleeing from India and the previous government there had granted permanent residency to him.

The current Malaysian government has so far not decided on sending him back to India but has barred him from delivering his public speeches.

His activities are under constant monitoring of the Malaysian authorities.