New Delhi: Ramesh Bishnoi, a cousin of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, stated that the Bishnoi community backs him and asked Bollywood actor Salman Khan to apologise to the community for the black buck hunting incident. Ramesh said this to NDTV, adding that if Salman Khan does not apologise, the law will do its job.
In 1998, the actor had allegedly hunted a black buck – which is revered by the Bishnoi community – during the shooting of ‘Hum Sath Sath Hain’ in Jodhpur. In 2018, the Rajasthan High Court found him guilty and sent him to five years behind bars. However, Salman contest the decision in the Supreme Court and was given bail later.
In 2018, Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in jail since 2015 for various charges, had announced in a court that he wanted to kill the actor for hurting the sentiments of the Bishnoi community. Of late, the actor has received several threats, reportedly from members of the Bishnoi gang, and therefore, security at his apartment and farmhouse has been enhanced.
In an interview with NDTV, Ramesh underlined that the Bishnoi community members were angry when the black buck incident occurred, and they can make sacrifices to save animals.
He said the community has a deep love for wildlife and trees, adding their 363 ancestors have committed their lives to save trees. Ramesh added that when the black buck incident happened, every Bishnoi’s blood was infuriated. “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 told the news outlet.
‘Salman Khan earlier offered money’
Ramesh also alleged that Salman Khan had earlier offered money to the Bishnoi community, but the members declined it. He said that Salman’s father, Salim Khan, had claimed that the Lawrence gang was driven by money, adding that he wanted to remind him that his son once presented a cheque book to our community, saying we could fill in any amount and take it. “If we were hungry for money, we would have taken it at that time,” Lawrence Bishnoi’s cousin said.
He pointed out that the actor was convicted in the black buck case, while the court has yet to determine Lawrence’s guilt regarding the charges he is facing.
Reacting to a member of the Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility for Baba Siddique’s killing, Ramesh said that it will only be clear after a probe if Lawrence was involved.
