JOIN USSalman bats for Yakub on Twitter, retracts
Actor Salman Khan on Sunday came out in support of death-row convict Yakub Memon on Twitter, but sensing trouble after a big political and social media backlash, withdrew his statement.
The 49-year-old popular but controversial actor posted a series of tweets in the early hours of Sunday seeking hanging of Tiger Memon, the chief conspirator of the March 12, 1993, Mumbai serial blasts, and not for his brother Yakub, whom he called innocent. “One innocent man killed is killing the humanity (sic)”, he tweeted.
The controversy erupted at a time when his home-production “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” has become a super-hit, somewhat resurrecting his image, which had taken a beating when he was sentenced to five years’ jail earlier this year in a 2003 case of hit-and-run by a Mumbai court.
While Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Khan’s statement was tantamount to “contempt of court”, veteran lawyer Majeed Memon, who has represented the Memon family in the TADA court, said it was “uncalled for”.
Even Khan’s father, famous scriptwriter Salim Khan, said what his son had tweeted was meaningless. At some places, people blackened his face in “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” posters.
Amidst protests outside his Galaxy Apartments residence at Bandra and threats of contempt proceedings and cancellation of bail, the actor chose to withdraw his statement. He is currently in his father's Panvel farmhouse.
“I had tweeted that Tiger Memon should hang for his crimes and I stand by it. What I also said was that Yakub Memon should not hang for him. I have not said or implied that Yakub Memon is innocent. I have complete faith in the judicial system of our country,” said Khan in the aftermath of his tweets.
“Many lives were lost in the Mumbai blasts. And I have repeatedly said the loss of one innocent life is equal to the loss of all humanity. My dad called and said I should retract my tweets as they have the potential to create misunderstanding. I hereby retract them. I would like to unconditionally apologise for any misunderstanding I may have created unintentionally,” he added.
However, he said he also strongly condemned those claiming his tweets hurt religious sentiments. “I have always said I respect all faiths, and always will,” he said.
His father, Salim Khan said: “He (Salman) should not say anything about these kind of serious topics without any knowledge. Salman is ignorant of the issue and people should not take him seriously.”
In his tweets, Salman had said: “Get Tiger hang him. Parade him not his brother (sic)." He had also tweeted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to share details about Tiger's whereabouts and if he was currently hiding in the neighbouring country. "Kidhar chupa hai tiger? Hey koi tiger nahi hai hai hai billi aur hum ek billi ko nahi pakad sakteh (sic),” he said.