Bishnoi Community Protests Salim Khan's Remarks on Blackbuck Case, Burning Effigies of Salman Khan

In Jaipur, members of the Bishnoi community recently set ablaze effigies of Bollywood actor Salman Khan and his father, Salim Khan. This act followed Salim’s interview where he claimed Salman’s innocence in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, saying his son "would never harm an animal." The community expressed anger and disappointment, believing Salim’s statements were misleading.

The Bishnoi community, known for their strong stance on wildlife protection, called Salim’s words "false" and “misleading.” Members said, “We are Bishnois; we do not defame anyone without cause. When the case was registered 26 years ago, prominent leaders, including a Bishnoi MLA, were involved. Salim Khan cannot sway people with false statements.” They promised to keep fighting for justice in the blackbuck case, planning further protests if necessary.

In a recent interview with ABP news, Salim Khan mentioned that Salman was not involved in the blackbuck poaching incident, stating that Salman "has never harmed any animal." He spoke of Salman’s love for animals, sharing that Salman deeply cared for his pet dog and was devastated when it died. According to Salim, Salman assured him he was not present when the incident occurred.

Salim also shared, “Aur woh mujhse jhooth nahi bolega. Usko nahi hain shaukh jaanwar maarne ka. Jaanwaro se mohabbat karta hai woh.” (He won’t lie to me. Salman has no interest in killing animals; he loves them).

Salim further insisted, “Maafi maangna ye accept karna hai ki maine maara hai. Salman ne kabhi kisi jaanwar ko nahi maara.” (Apologizing means admitting to it. Salman never killed any animal).

The incident sparked memories of Salman’s past interviews, including a 2009 conversation where he claimed he only fed a blackbuck but did not harm it.