'Bishnoi Community Stands With Lawrence': Jailed Gangster's Family Says Amid Row, Demands Salman Khan's Apology
Lawrence Bishnoi's cousin Ramesh said that every member of the Bishnoi community was angry with the black buck incident and is ready to make sacrifices to save animals.
Lawrence Bishnoi's cousin Ramesh Bishnoi asserted that the entire Bishnoi community stands behind the jailed gangster. He also called on actor Salman Khan to issue an apology to the community regarding the black buck hunting case, for which the latter was sentenced to jail for five years. The development came as the controversy continues to escalate with the actor receiving fresh threats. The situation had intensified after former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai on October 12 night, for which the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility.
"Salman Khan should apologize. His family is playing with our religious sentiments. If Salman Khan does not apologize, the law will do its job," Ramesh told NDTV.
The incident took place back in 1998 when Salman Khan was accused of hunting a black buck during the shooting of 'Hum Sath Sath Hain' in Jodhpur. The black buck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community. In 2018, he was found guilty by the Rajasthan High Court and sentenced to five years in prison. He was later granted bail after he had challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been incarcerated since 2015, facing several criminal charges, declared in a court in 2018 that he wanted to take Salman Khan's life for hurting the Bishnoi community's sentiments. In the past few weeks, the actor has received numerous threats, allegedly from Bishnoi gang members. Following this, the security around his apartment and farmhouse was heightened.
Bishnoi's cousin Ramesh said that every member of the Bishnoi community was furious when the black buck hunting incident happened. He added that the community is even ready to make sacrifices to save animals.
"Our society loves wildlife and trees. Our 363 ancestors have given their lives to save trees. When Salman Khan killed the black buck, every Bishnoi's blood was boiling. We left it to the court to decide. But if the community was made fun of, then it is natural for the society to get angry, Today the entire Bishnoi community stands with Lawrence in this matter," he said.
He pointed out that Salman Khan had been found guilty in the black buck case by the court, whereas it is yet to find the gangster guilty in the charges made against him.
"Salman Khan is guilty. He has been sentenced to 5 years. He has gone to the Supreme Court against the order. Has any crime been proven against Lawrence in any court? He will be considered a criminal only when the court proves him guilty," Ramesh said.
Lawrence Bishnoi's Family Claims Salman Khan Offered Them Money
He further claimed that the community was earlier offered money by the actor, but they refused to take it.
"His father Salim Khan has said that the Lawrence gang is doing this for money. I want to remind him his son brought a cheque book in front of the community, saying fill in the figures and take it. If we were hungry for money, we would have taken it at that time," he said.
Responding to whether Bishnoi was involved in Baba Siddique's murder, he said that it would be clear only after a probe, further denying the gangster's involvement in extortion cases. He said that the Lawrence Bishnoi belongs to a wealthy family and wouldn't demand ransom in his name.
"Nothing has been proven so far. Lawrence has 110 acres of land. He has two brothers who are landlords. If it was for money, would the person who has 110 acres of land do such a thing? Other people are demanding ransom in his name. He is not doing this," Ramesh told NDTV.
His cousin recalled how Lawrence Bishnoi was good with studies and even secured a scholarship for his academic performance, and how the family was shocked that he could become a big gangster. Ramesh also claimed that Bishnoi had told him that he was being framed and that no one was listening to him.
"The last time I met him was at the Abohar court. I met him for only 5 minutes. I told him to shun this path, he said he was being framed and no one was listening to him," he said.
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