The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday demanded an apology from Bollywood actor
Salman Khan for his "unwarranted comments" on the 26/11 attacks to a Pakistani TV
channel where he said that the Pakistani government is not to be blamed for it and the
terror attack gained attention "only because elite were targeted".
"We strongly condemn Salman Khan's unwarranted and irresponsible comments and
that too to a Pakistani channel. How can he say only the elite were targeted? Is he not
aware of the common people killed at the railway station and also the security forces?
Moreover he has no right to give the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) and the Pakistani government a clean chit... He should immediately apologise," BJP spokesperson, Mr Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, told IANS.
Salman Khan in an interview to Pakistan's Express TV said the Pakistani government is
not to be blamed and that it was a security failure on India's part.
"Salman's comment at this point when all the evidence is pointing a finger at the ISI and
Pakistan, is totally uncalled for. This will weaken India's case and strengthen Pakistan's. He is an Indian celebrity and he has disappointed many Indian fans. If there was POTA on Sunday he would be behind bars," Mr Hussain said.
"Salman should concentrate on films and not make such comments," Mr Hussain added.
The November 26-29, 2008 attack left 166 people dead as 10 terrorists who sailed in from Karachi let loose coordinated shooting and bombing attacks largely across south
Mumbai.
Eight of the attacks occurred in south Mumbai at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the
Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the
Orthodox Jewish-owned Nariman House, the Metro Cinema and St. Xavier's College. There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in
Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.