Mysuru: A BJP law maker, Member of Parliament, Pratap Simha virtually backed convict – but-out on bail, Bollywood film star Salman Khan on the basis of his contribution to the film industry and needy, which outweighed his unintentional but terrible mistake.
The M P on Thursday, on his facebook wall, wrote “His contribution to the industry n needy outweighs his unintentional, but terrible mistake. Everyday 377 people die coz of accidents, v need strict implementation of traffic rules. All are talking abt Salman, very good! But how many truck drivers are being punished, who ram n ran over? Treat him like any other brat, don’t hound him just coz he is Salman Khan. Punishing just him vl never b a deterrent. Let’s pass 2014 Motor Vehicle amendment bill n punish all the guilty. Bash me for this view, but I am speaking my heart out.”
The MP did however, raise the the problem of the lenient traffic rules in place for rash and negligent driving, quoting statistics (377 people die off road accident in India everyday) and truck drivers’ irresponsible driving style. He also used his post to publicize the 2014 Motor Vehicle Amendment bill, “Let’s pass the 2014 Motor Vehicle amendment bill and punish all the guilty.” Interestingly, the popular M P of Mysore-Madikeri, Simha told facebook viewers to bash him for his indifferent view and he was just speaking from his heart.
“My view is misconstrued, I have not backed Salman or justified Khan’s terrible mistake,” expressed Pratap Simha to Newskarnataka.com. He further speaking on his facebook post claimed Khan’s mistake was just a bad side of the actor, who also possesses an extremely good side. For the sole reason that he is ‘Salman Khan’- one cannot dismiss the actor. When asked what influenced you to air your opinion on Khan’s verdict, he said heap of bashings he happened to read in Twitter and Facebook persuaded Simha to put out his version. He argued that he did not intend to convey through his writing that engaging in charity, compensates for the mistake, which his writing on Khan obliquely indicates.
Simha added thatn many lorry drivers flout law leaving the spot in hit-and-run cases. He quoted his wife’s accident case, in which she lost a leg and divulged “My wife lost leg due to a lorry driver.” He pitched for introducing 2014 Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill in order put stringent traffic norm in place. He contended he has not justified Salman’s mistake and expressed Salman received punishment for what he did on that fateful day.
His view has invited sharp criticism in the comment box in facebook and also in the outside world. Former RSS Pracharak and Chief of Sri Rama Sene, Pramod Mutalik condemned his view. Mutalik opined Simha softened after he joined the BJP and it was evident from his recent write ups. He argued that Salman Khan’s verdict was a benchmark, adding Simha has lost his sanity. On the other hand few RSS cadre who spoke to Newskarnataka.com on this incident expressed Simha should not have taken such a stand on Salman’s conviction.
