Salman kicks off storm over 26/11 remarks
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Bollywood actor Salman Khan, whose latest film ''Dabangg'' opened to full houses across the country, received flak from various quarters on Sunday for his comments on a Pak TV channel over 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The actor reportedly told the channel that the 26/11 attacks were widely noticed only because two major hotels in Mumbai were targeted and it claimed the lives of influential people. “Attacks have happened on trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much,” he told the Express TV channel in an interview. He also reportedly said the Pakistani government was not to be blamed for the attacks. “Our security had failed. We have had lot of attacks earlier, and all of them were not from Pakistan,” he said.
Salman’s comments upset many, including Maharashtra Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, who reacted angrily. “The attack was not only on Taj and Oberoi but also on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus where common people killed,” he said.
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Sunday criticised Bollywood actor Salman Khan for his statement on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, noting the rich were not the only victims.
'Apart from the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the attacks also took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and other spots where the not so rich were also killed,' Chavan said.
'I don't know what Salman has said about the involvement of the Pakistani government, but (the sole surviving terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir) Kasab's arrest and the court's verdict have made it clear that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. There is no room for his or anyone else's opinion when the court's verdict is out,' Chavan added.
After a weekend of flak over his comments on a Pakistani TV channel about the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and trying to explain that his words were "twisted" out of context, Salman has apologised on Twitter. Salman's latest tweet says:
"Looks like I mite hv to get off twitter. Don't want to but wat to do? I think I messed up, so sorry guys, $sorry bolne mein koi sharam nahi."
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today slammed Bollywood superstar Salman Khan for his remarks during an interview to a Pakistani channel that the 26/11 attacks were hyped because the "elite" were targetted.
"Salman should have maintained utmost care while making comments we strongly condemn it," Prasad told reporters when asked to comment on the issue.
Just two days after criticising Salman Khan for his statement on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Shiv Sena took a U-turn and said that the actor is from a patriotic family.
“There is no reason for us to harbour anger against Salman. His family is nationalist and patriotic in true sense," said Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana. "Salman apologised after the furore in the country (over his remarks). He must have realised that the furore was not by the rich but by the common masses," he added.