No anger against Salman Khan after apology: Shiv Sena

Mumbai : After first slamming actor Salman Khan for his remarks on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday termed Khan and his family ?patriotic? and ?nationalist? after the actor apologized for his statements.

?There is no reason for us to harbour anger against Salman. His family is nationalist and patriotic in true sense,? Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in the party?s mouthpiece ?Saamna?.

Salman?s remarks that the Mumbai terror attacks were such ?hyped? because it had targeted the elite and rich had invited widespread wrath against the actor, including from Shiv Sena.

He had since then apologized and withdrawn his remarks.

?Salman apologised after the furore in the country (over his remarks). He must have realised that the furore was not by the rich but by the common masses,” Thackeray said.

?Salman’s family is patriotic and it is with this responsibility that he should speak and avoid talking on anything but movies,? the Sena chief added in the editorial piece.

He also praised Salman and his family for being secular and celebrating Hindu festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Janamashtami with fervour.

The ?Saamna? editorial also referred to the party?s face-off with Shahrukh Khan over the latter?s supporting inclusion of Pakistani cricketers for Indian Premier League (IPL).

?It is good that Salman was not adamant like Shah Rukh Khan,? Thackeray said in the editorial, in an apparent reference to Shahrukh?s refusal to apologize to the Sena after the party disrupted screening of his movies.