Valmiki community protests against Salman’s film

After Padmawati, Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ is the latest Bollywood movie to face the heat. Upset over alleged casteist remarks made by Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty in separate TV shows, members of the Valmiki community staged protests in several districts on Saturday.

In Yamunanagar and Kaithal, the protesters even entered a movie theater and tore the posters of Salman’s new movie. Following the protests, owners of the Hind Cinema in Kaithal decided to cancel the screening of Tiger Zinda Hai.

Protesters in Yamunangar also burnt the effigy of Salman and Shilpa and submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, demanding action against them for “hurting the sentiments” of the community.

Police deployment was strengthened near cinema halls in these cities to avoid any untoward incident. In Panipat, members of the Valmiki Yuva Sangathan took out a protest march against the actors. Community leader Govind Lahot said, “Both

Both Salman and Shilpa have hurt the sentiments of the Valmiki community and they should apologise for their remarks. GOVIND LAHOT, Community leader

Salman and Shilpa have hurt the sentiments of the Valmiki community and they should apologise for their remarks.”

Demanding strict action against the two actors, Lahot said the community members will intensify their agitation if the government fails to do so.

In Hisar, youths under the banner ‘Veer Valmiki Jagriti Manch’ took out a protest march on Saturday alleging that the films actors have made casteist remarks against their community in the film.

Seeking strict action against the director and the actors of the film, outfit’s president Brij Mohan handed over a memorandum to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to stop the screening of the movie at various theatres.