Rajasthan on Friday witnessed protests against actor Salman Khan as posters of his upcoming film Tiger Zinda Hai were torn off from several cinema halls across the state. The protesters from the Valmiki community were up in arms against the actor for using a pejorative against the community in a television interview and even burnt his effigy while demanding an apology from him. In response, the morning shows of the film were cancelled at a few cinema halls in Jaipur.
Members of the Valmiki community, who are even protesting against Shilpa Shetty Kundra for using similar phrases in a recently surfaced interview from a few years ago, also staged protests in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Behrore, Nasirabad, Churu and Dausa.
An FIR was lodged against Salman and Shilpa at the Kotwali thana in Churu under the SC/ST Act of the IPC. Investigating officer DySP Hukum Singh confirmed that a case has been registered and said that action will be taken in accordance to law.
In Jaipur, the protesters ripped off Tiger Zinda Hai's posters at Rajmandir and Ankur theatre. Following this, the police took around 18 people into custody. Police protection has been deployed at several cinema halls where the film is being screened.
Protesters in Udaipur have submitted a memorandum to the police and demanded a case be registered against Salman and Shilpa. "We are deeply hurt by Salman's statement. He is a star and has die-hard fans, even in our community. Such derogatory language should not be used. He must apologize. We will continue with our agitation," said Pankaj Valmiki, former national president of Akhil Bharteey Valmiki Chetna Manch.
Vikram Valmiki, state president, Valmiki Sena said, "We will continue with our protest till Salman apologises. We have no issues with the film. There will be a meeting of the representatives of the community to chalk out future plan
FIR LODGED
- Protests were staged in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Behrore, Nasirabad, Churu and Dausa
- An FIR was lodged against Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty Kundra at the Kotwali thana in Churu under the SC/ST Act
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