Blackbuck case: BJP leader urges Salman Khan to apologise to Bishnoi community

BJP leader Harnath Singh Yadav called on actor Salman Khan to apologise for allegedly killing blackbucks in 1998, a case that caused outrage in the Bishnoi community and led to threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

In Short

• Salman Khan accused in 1998 blackbuck poaching case
• Blackbuck sacred to Bishnois, leads to threats from Bishnoi gang
• Source close to Khan says actor refuses to apologise, citing innocence

In the wake of escalating threats against actor Salman Khan by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, former BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav has called on the megastar to apologise to the Bishnoi community for his involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

Khan was accused of hunting and killing two blackbucks during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain in Rajasthan in 1998. The blackbuck is sacred to the Bishnoi sect, and the incident caused widespread outrage. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, a member of the Bishnoi community, swore revenge against the actor after he was convicted in the case in 2018.

In a social media post directed at Khan, Yadav claimed that for years, the Bishnoi community has been deeply upset with Khan, and he owes them an apology for hurting their religious sentiments.

“People make mistakes. You are a top actor, and a large number of people in the country love you. My good advice is to respect the Bishnoi community's sentiments and apologize for your big mistake," the BJP leader tweeted in Hindi.

Salman Khan has faced legal battles for over two decades related to the blackbuck poaching case, with several court hearings and public protests over the years. However, things took a turn for the worse when the Lawrence Bishnoi gang started targeting the actor.

Against this backdrop, Yadav reiterated the need for a public apology, saying, "No sensible person should do anything against the sentiments of any religion. Salman Khan is a popular actor with a large following. If someone has done something wrong, they must atone for it."

However, a source close to Khan said the actor has no intention of apologising. "He will not apologize for something he hasn’t done," the source stated, adding that Khan’s family is "quite concerned about his well-being."

On the threats the star is facing from the Bishnoi gang, the source said, "It just gets more stressful every time he steps out in public or travels for shoots. The family is definitely worried, but they fully support his stand."

The BJP leader’s appeal comes days after NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, a friend of Khan's, was shot dead in Mumbai, with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility. Three men have been arrested in connection with the killing, which Mumbai Police have labelled a contract hit.

Baba Siddique's murder has reignited concerns over the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's vendetta against Khan.

Inputs by Devesh Pal Singh