Mumbai: Popular Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, facing multiple probes over alleged provocative speeches, will address the media through video calling service Skype tomorrow, his aide said today.
"Dr Zakir Naik will address the press conference via Skype at around 10 am," he said in a statement here tonight.
The press meet will take place in a small hall in Mazgaon area of South Mumbai, he said.
The 50-year-old Mumbai-based televangelist, who is currently abroad, was slated to interact with the media today but cancelled his press briefing, citing pressure from management of the venue where it was organised.
"The management of the Mehfil hall in Agripada, around 11 last night, told our team present at the venue that they cannot allow the press conference to go ahead. Given no choice, our team removed arrangements made for the meet and left by around midnight," Naik's aide said earlier in the day.
The preacher's media interaction was first scheduled earlier this week at Trident Hotel in South Mumbai, but the venue was subsequently changed to World Trade Centre. Later, it was shifted to Mehfil hall.
The organisers of Naik's press briefing had yesterday claimed Mumbai Police have instructed top hotels in the city not to provide space for his conference, a charge they later retracted.
IRF office on Thursday said an unexpected, pre-midnight call led to the cancellation of popular televangelist Zakir Naik’s scheduled Thursday morning media interaction via Skype in Mumbai
“The Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) team was busy making the final arrangements for holding this morning’s media event. However, shortly before midnight, the Mehfil Hall (in South Mumbai) authorities called up, asking us to pack up and leave the premises immediately,” said a spokesperson for IRF.
No reasons were cited for the last-minute cancellation. The team complied and left the premises early Thursday morning.
The spokesperson added that although there were other options available to hold the meet, many were unsuitable for various reasons, including proper internet connection to ensure uninterrupted Skype connectivity.
Naik is currently in Saudi Arabia and will address the media from there after an alternate venue is finalised.
The Mumbai-based preacher is on a scheduled lecture tour of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and then Africa and expected to return home after a fortnight.
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