PETALING JAYA: The head of an Indian government agency tasked with protecting

religious minorities agrees that Dr Zakir Naik�s speeches could be offensive to

Hindus and questions his methods, but adds that the preacher has reasonable grounds
to fear persecution and unfair trial under the Narendra Modi government.

Zafarul-Islam Khan, a prominent activist who chairs the federal-backed Delhi

Minorities Commission � an agency which safeguards the rights of Muslims,
Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis � also believes the recent money laundering
charges are part of a larger campaign by extremist Hindu forces to silence Naik.

�The Hindutva forces have had unbridled power since Modi came to power in May 2014.
They are misusing it against their opponents, real or imaginary,� Khan, who is the
son of one of contemporary India�s most illustrious Muslim voices, told FMT.

Khan�s father is Wahiduddin Khan, who advocates Gandhian non-violence and has been
bestowed with the Padma Bhushan, India�s third highest civilian honour.