Amid political slugfest on terror, JD (U) pitches for national unity

Amid the ongoing political slugfest for attending Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's programmes between the Congress Party and BJP, Janata Dal (United) on Friday called for a national unity for fighting terrorism.

"The politicisation of terrorism is the worst way of handling and defeating terrorism. I would only press and emphasise the point that terrorism can only be fought when there is a national unity," JD-U leader Pawan Verma told ANI.

Verma further noted that politicisation of terrorism in order to foster short term political gain is not in the interest of the country.

"Politicising terrorism for short term political gain or scoring brownie points by one party against the other is not the right way," he added.

When asked to respond on Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who is under fire for attending events of Naik, the JD(U) leader said he has already issued a clarification.

"Infact, he has welcomed an investigation into Zakir Naik, but whether it is BJP or Congress, the politicisation of terror should not happen," he added.

Meanwhile, facing flak from BJP for sharing the stage with 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, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned the double standards in application.

"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 of 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 ANI.

In 2012, a video emerged showing Digvijaya Singh sharing stage with Islamic preacher Zakir Naik at an event.

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.