Actor Salman Khan has apologised unconditionally and retracted his tweets in support of Yakub Memon, who is set to be executed for his connection to the 1993 Mumbai Blasts.
Salman Khan had demanded the Yakub Memon be spared, and the ‘real’ culprit, his brother Tiger be punished. Tiger has been absconding and is currently believed to be either in Dubai or Pakistan.
[sic]Been wanting to tweet Tis fr 3 days n was afraid to do so but it involves a man’s n family. Don’t hang brother hang tha lomdi who ran away.
– Salman Khan on Twitter
Salman received both praise and protests for his comments. However, the actor’s father Salim Khan called his son’s comments “ignorant and meaningless” and the BJP’s Mumbai President Ashish Shelar has demanded that Salman’s bail in the 2002 hit-and-run case be cancelled.
There have also been sizeable protests outside Salman’s residence by the BJP Yuva Morcha or youth wing.
On social media, the reactions to Salman Khan’s defence of Yakub Memon ranged from praise to ridicule.