Salman Khan's tweets in support of Yakub Memon invite mixed reactions

Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Sunday tweeted out in support of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon saying his brother Tiger should be hanged instead.

The Supreme Court dismissed Yakub Memon’s curative petition against death sentence earlier. The home department took the view that the fresh mercy petition is not legally tenable as such, and it should be dismissed and that Yakub should be hanged on July 30 as scheduled.

Salman tweeted, “Hang Tiger. Brother is being hanged for Tiger. Arre Where is Tiger? Get tiger hang him. Parade him not his brother.”

The Bajrangi Bhaijaan superstar even called Yakub an innocent man and tweeted, “One innocent man killed is killing the humanity.”

All the tweets were tweeted out between 1:52 am to 2:41 am on Sunday.

The actor also tweeted out to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to share details about Tiger’s whereabouts and if he is currently hiding in the neighbouring country.

But anger pored in this morning from political parties and even from his father Salim Khan, who while talking to Times Now, said that the tweets does not mean anything, “Whatever Salman has written is totally meaningless. I do not support it. His tweets are wrong.”

Here are some of the reactions to his comments:

Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena): “Is he trying to question the judicial system of the nation?”

Ujjwal Nikam (Special public prosecutor, 1993 bomb blasts): “His statement directly amount to contempt to court,” Nikam told Hindustan Times , adding: “The impression created amongst his followers is that Yakub is innocent. What proof does Salman Khan have?”

KTS Tulsi (Senior lawyer): “I think it (mercy petition) should be reconsidered, he (Yakub) has rendered us valuable help in being able to collect evidence against Pakistan.”

Abha Singh (Senior advocate): “Salman Khan himself is a convict, whose appeal is in the High Court. After that he has the audacity to say that Yakub Memon is innocent. Is he trying to question the judicial system of the country when the order has been given after due procedure of the law? Salman Khan’s statement is very improper, it is against the rule of law.”

Majeed Memon (NCP): “Salman’s remark is his personal opinion. The government, administration and judiciary will not change its course because of his statement…..Salman may be a celebrity. It is just his individual opinion. The courts and the government do their work based on merits and demerits of the case and not on Salman’s statement.”

Raza Murad (Actor): “That’s Salman’s personal opinion, he has a right to express opinion as a citizen of a democratic nation.”

Baba Ramdev (Yoga Guru): “Hanging traitors is important, but it is also important to teach a lesson to all those who stand with the enemies of humanity and nation.”

Shatrughan Sinha (Actor, BJP politician): “I know Salman Khan for a long time. He is a good man. He has not said anything wrong about Yakub Memon, who has already filed a mercy petition. I think there is no harm in supporting anybody’s mercy petition.”

With inputs from agencies.