FIFA World Cup: Zakir Naik gets World Cup invitation, Government of India will lodge strong protest

Amid reports that controversial Islamic preacher and fugitive Indian Zakir Naik has been invited to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said he is sure India will present its case strongly to the concerned authorities. Thoughts will be expressed. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Puri, however, also said that he had no information about the invitation being extended to Naik.

Hardeep Singh Puri was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a program here. Naik reportedly left India in 2016 for Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. India has requested his extradition from Malaysia. When asked about Qatar's alleged invitation to Naik for the FIFA World Cup, Puri said, "I have no information about it."

When asked whether India would lodge a protest, he said that he was sure India would lodge a protest on the matter. Responding to a question related to the matter, Puri said that we (India) have our own views about him (Naik) and I am sure a strong protest will be lodged with the concerned authorities. Earlier, BJP spokesperson Savio Rodrigues has appealed to the Indian Football Association and the spectators visiting Qatar to boycott the Qatar FIFA World Cup.

Talking about the match, Lionel Messi's team Argentina, a strong contender for the title, has got a big blow today. Messi's team had to face a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. This defeat has broken the series of consecutive victories in 36 matches of Argentina. After this defeat, it has become important for Argentina to win the next two matches. Argentina has to face Mexico and Poland next.