Mumbai, July 26: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan Sunday evening apologised for tweeting earlier that the 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Yakub Memon should not hang but his brother Tiger Memon should.
While saying that he stood by what he had said, Salman said his father Salim Khan wanted him to retract his tweets ‘‘as they have the potential to create misunderstanding’’.
‘‘What I said is that Yakub Memon should not hang for him (Tiger). I have not said or implied that Yakub Memon is innocent. I have complete faith in the judicial system of our country.
‘‘Many lives were lost in the Mumbai blasts. And I have repeatedly said the loss of (even) one innocent life is equal to the loss of all humanity.
‘‘My dad called … said I should retract my tweets as they have the potential to create misunderstanding. I hereby retract them.
‘‘I would like to unconditionally apologise for any misunderstanding I may have created unintentionally.
‘‘I also strongly condemn those who are claiming my tweets are anti-religious. I have always said I respect all faiths and I always will,’’ the actor tweeted.
Yakub is set to be executed July 30 for his role in Mumbai blasts in which 257 people were killed and 712 others injured. Yakub is the brother of one of the main absconding accused, Tiger Memon.
“Hang Tiger. Brother is being hanged for Tiger. Aarrre (where) is Tiger? Get Tiger. Get Tiger hang him. Parade him, not his brother,” Salman tweeted Saturday night, referring to Ibrahim alias Tiger Memon.
The ‘‘Ek Tha Tiger’’ star also called Tiger Memon a coward for letting his brother face the gallows.
“We can die for our family. Tiger, your brother will be hanged for you in some days. Say something, make a statement or address that it was you. What kind of brother are you,” Salman wondered. IANS
