Read what Salman Khan's father Salim Khan said about Modi: 'He has learnt his lesson'

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's father Salim Khan has said he has forgiven Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots. Salim Khan had words of praise for Modi for the way he has run his government in Gujarat. This is what Salim Khan said on Wednesday: "I do not know much about politics. This is Modiji's website. I had suggested this to him that there should be an Urdu website. In India, not only Muslims, but Punjabis and Kayasths also read Urdu. "He liked my idea and started this website. He requested me to launch this website. I am doing this for the love of Urdu language. I love Urdu. It's my mother tongue. I learnt it in the lap of my mother. Some excesses were committed against Urdu because of misunderstandings. "Urdu was born in India. It is the language of Indians, but I do not know why people link Urdu with Muslims only. That's why this language was sidelines and excesses were committed. "The same thing happened with Yoga too. Many people link Yoga with Hindu rituals. But, in reality, Yoga is a healthy exercise. I do it every morning and recommend it to people. I have done a teacher's course in Yoga too. "So Urdu as a language must remain alive, and this (website) is a good initiative. I will cooperate with this initiative, and continue writing. The poetry written in this language is unmatched with other languages. Great Urdu shayars like Ghalib have done good work for Urdu. "But now people avoid studying Urdu. My nephews and nieces too do not study Urdu. Urdu is not being taught in schools and colleges too. Urdu is India's one of the most civilised languages, and it must be kept alive. "I have personal relations (with Modi). Moreover I love my language and wanted to do something for Urdu. I have no relations with any political party. I want to say it frankly that I am a reliable voter for Congress. Whenever I vote, I vote for Congress. But recently, I have been a bit disappointed with Congress, but if I find a good candidate, I will vote. "I have several friends in BJP. I have good relations with Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha. Shaina NC is here with me. I have good relations with her and her family. Who can stop me from speaking to anybody."I was offered a seat (to contest) several times. I was also offered a Rajya Sabha seat, but I have no interest. One of our sahebs used to say, "to be interesting, you have to be interested". But I have no interest in politics. To rise further, you must have interest in a particular line. I have no interest. I only read newspapers. I watch, I select my candidate and then I vote."I will certainly contribute to this website. I had been writing articles. I have written more than 50 to 60 articles for Dainik Bhaskar, which have been translated into Marathi and Gujarati. My relationship with Modi Saheb developed due to these articles. When he came to Mumbai, he expressed his wish to meet me. I went to meet him."I was asked, when Islam came to India, many things came - rozas, namaaz, Haj, zakaat. Somebody asked what is the greatest prayer. One expected the answer to be namaaz or Ramzaan. He said, the greatest prayer was love. Then he asked what is the greatest charity. He himself replied, the greatest charity was love. "There was this huge gathering at Ramlila (Maidan in Delhi). Anna, Kejriwal sat against corruption. Nobody can stop corruption throughout the world. Corruption is a very personal thing. Like, filching somebody's article. Like, your plumber comes and filches something. The biggest problem of this country is communalism. So long as it is not eradicated, the country cannot progress. We have to live together. "I saw Partition in my childhood, when I was 12 years old. Even at that time, there was not such a big gulf, nor such hate as we see today. The riots do not took place because of a single individual. Like say, some Sudhakaran came here, and riots took place. Or, Modi carried out the riots. No. These take place because of mutual antagonism. If we have mutual affection, will we ever fight? Or will I ever fight with my brothers? Never. These mutual antagonism should end, but unfortunately it is increasing. And the distance is become bigger day by day. My house is an example of different religions. In India, different religions and races stay. Every body has his right to follow his religion. "Salma (my wife) is a Maharashtrian. She performs her Ganapati pooja here. Helen is a Roman Catholic, she goes to church every Sunday. My daughter married Atul Agnihotri. My son Sohail married Seema. Arbaaz married Malaika Arora. All these happened because I had no problems with any religion. Even today I have no problem with Salman marrying..Don't ask me when he will marry. Even Allah Mian does not know. Whomsoever he marries to, I have no problem. In my childhood, I stayed in a place, where there were no Muslims in my neighbourhood."When my father wrote his will, there were five people. His children were young, my mother had died. All the five who were consulted were Hindus. Not a single Muslim among them. "And the funny statements people make nowadays, about Rajiv Gandhi, about Sanjay Gandhi. Did not people die in their families too? Then why did they say that one died because he got the locks of (Ramjanmabhoomi) opened and the other died because he carried out forcible sterlization (of Muslims). Such uncouth people's remarks are shown on TV for 3-3, 4-4 days and debates take place. These people do not deserve even five minutes. They are bad people, they are idiots. They do not represent Muslims. Not a single Muslim follows them. "The problems that Muslims face are jobs, education, shelter. Muslims need food twice a day, they need work. They love this country. Ask any Muslim, will you prefer to live in Iran, he will reply in the negative. Ask him, will you prefer to go and live in Pakistan, he will say No. Ask him whether he will go to Iraq, he will say no. Means, the Muslims finds India the safest place for himself. It is the responsibility of Muslims to forget whatever that has happened and move ahead.. and extend the hand of love. There is no other way out. "I will not like to speak anything on the current political scenario. Because, I just do not understand what's happening. Everybody is lampooning the other, nothing else. Is anybody saying what he or she will do for the country? And day by day, the debate is becoming too personal and dirty. I feel ashamed. Today Pakistan is behind us in all respects, but look at the cabinet in Pakistan. They dont throw shoes like they do it here in Parliament. At least they have some dignity. Here there is no self-respect, no dignity. And for this, both the communities are responsible. This should end. "(on we should forgive the past and move ahead): "what is the other alternative? Should we weep for the rest of our lives and stop moving ahead. My mother died, I thought I can't live anybody. But today I am alive. That was in 1995. Should I continue to weep even today? My father died in 1951. Should I still weep for him? Yes, whatever happened (in Gujarat), nobody is justifying. No sane person can justify, but this should never be repeated. I believe Modi has learnt his lesson, and till the time, he is there, no innocent person will die."Once I had a formal talk with Modi Saheb at a function. He said, let people abuse me, but at least let them come forward with their grievances. People went to him with 14 grievances, and he approved action on 13 of them. There were reasonable grievances. One of the Muslims spoke of minorities. He said, I don't consider you a minority. So, we need practical people who understand. We don't want people who make hollow promises. There is no value for religious rituals in Islam, as to how many namaaz one performs a day, how many rozas one undertood in a month. The main thing is will and action in Islam. If any neighbour feels himself insecure with a Muslim, then that person does not deserve to be called a Muslim. "I have lived with protection for 11 years. There are misguided people who carry out blasts. I have said, terrorists do not have religion. This is a fight of money power. R R Patil (Home Minister) confirmed that whenever a terrorist was caught, huge cash was found from their person and from bank. From where does this money come? This fight is a fight with money power. "No party is secular today. People are secular. I am a secular person. "

Read what Salman Khan's father Salim Khan said about Modi: 'He has learnt his lesson'

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's father Salim Khan has said he has forgiven Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots. Salim Khan had words of praise for Modi for the way he has run his

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Read what Salman Khan's father Salim Khan said about Modi: 'He has learnt his lesson'

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's father Salim Khan has said he has forgiven Narendra Modi for the 2002 Gujarat riots. Salim Khan had words of praise for Modi for the way he has run his

More From Politics

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​Amid Opposition's unity bid, BJP's counter-strategy of key inductions ahead of 2024 polls

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​On PM Modi's jibe at Patna meeting, TMC says 'It's you who is leading largest opposition party'

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Punjab Police clarifies uniform advisory, says personnel were never told to travel in civil clothes

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IND-W vs SL-W Asian Games, cricket final: Smriti Mandhana departs for 79, India's strike rate drops

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