I was at the salon getting my hair done when the lady sitting next to me, fiddling with her phone suddenly shouted "oh no" and burst into tears creating quite a furor! Apparently, she had read about the verdict on Salman Khan's hit and run case that sentenced him five years jail. What followed was a heated argument between a group on how the long pending verdict Salman Khan's hit and run case was "unfair"! I better not get into details of extreme arguments between people who felt that finally despite the delay, justice was served while some others felt Salman Khan didn't deserve to be punished.
I can't stop thinking what is wrong with us, Indians? Are we so blinded by our love for anything and everything related to Bollywood that NOTHING shakes us really? Not even a crime as gruesome as murder by our idol?
It has been a few days since Indian media has gone berserk over Salman Khan's verdict, the longest hit and run trial in the country. Honestly, I am sick of the "coverage"! No, I am not going to rant about media's obsession of Bollywood and cricket (yeah, that sells and how!) but what shocks me is the reaction of common citizens and the Bollywood brigade who went all out to show "support" for their beloved Mr. Salman Khan. The much talked about tweets by Bollywood fraternity reflect utter disregard for judiciary and complete lack of basic compassion.
Accidents happen. But it is only when there is lack of accountability cases like hit and run happen. The tendency to run away after committing crime arises out of insensitivity and blatant over confidence of manipulating system with filthy money and muscle power. The bizarre tweets and so called "solidarity" for Salman Khan is a reflection of how isolated "Bollywood celebrities" and their clan is from reality! Do they even know the basic premise of this case that a precious life (yeah, even if it was a homeless beggar, his life WAS precious), one person lost a limb and few others were seriously injured? I wonder, if they had reacted the same way, had their own family member been injured/died in such sad "accident"? (God forbid!)
The hit and run case of Salman Khan and so many of his previous court cases indicate how money power can fix anything, even murder! I bemoan lack of basic humanity, sensitivity and compassion that many of Salman Khan's "fans" and "supporters" fail to display.
A real hero shows character to own responsibility for his deeds. By running away cowardly Mr. Salman Khan has proved yet again that he is spineless. The first lesson of being human is having basic respect and sensitivity towards fellow human beings.
Mr. Salman Khan for me, is not human enough! Period!
"The law is a system that protects everybody who can afford a good lawyer.” Mark Twain
