Sena leader condemns Salman's remarks; asks to be patriotic

Shiv Sena leader and minister for industries Subhash Desai on Friday said that actor Salman Khan should learn patriotism from his father Salim Khan instead of making statements in favor of Pakistani artistes.

Demanding that Government should snap all the ties including sporting ties and those related to film artistes with Pakistan, Desai criticised Khan's comment where he said that Pakistani artists are not terrorists.

Desai was responding to a question on Salman Khan's statement that artistes don't have any religion and had opined against banning Pakistani artistes from acting in Indian films. Addressing a press conference at Mantralaya. Desai made it clear that Shiv Sena had its stand clear right from its founder Late Balasaheb Thackeray's era who had stated that when Pakistan attacks Indian soldiers on borders, we should snap all the ties with them.

Desai said that we should neither have any sporting ties nor we should continue any ties in the area art and culture. He said that the lyricist and script writer from Bollywood Salim Khan is known for his patriotism and Salman Khan needs to learn from his father before making such statements.

Replying to a question on whether the cartoon controversy has hit Shiv Sena, Desai said, ` Kartoonmule amhala changlech chatke and fatke basle aahet meaning we have received enough flak because of the cartoon.' It was after a cartoon published in Sena mouthpiece daily Saamana that Maratha community had taken strong exception for the objectionable cartoon and cartoonist Shrinivas Prabhudesai had to tender apology. There was demand for apology by Saamana editor and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and when asked about the same Desai said that the issue is over now.