Perhaps no other court case has attracted as much media attention as Salman Khan’s Hit & Run case in recent times. For over two weeks social, electronics and print media have been focusing on Salman Khan hit & run case. The news matters, but here comments on social media were more interesting than the news itself. Someone commented that why people should sleep on streets. Soon he was prompted by many to withdraw his comment as it went against the privilege of many pavement dwellers!
Most interesting was the comment in a newspaper that suggested Salman Khan should be punished same way as a judge awards punishment to Rajesh Khanna in Bollywood movie Dushman. It is an interesting coincidence that Salman Khan’s hit and run case is similar to the story of 70’s famous movie Dushman. In Dushman, the judge asks him to take care of deceased family and tells local police to ensure that convict remains within the village.
The Indian TV news media have repeatedly shown the family of victim Nurullah who died in Salman Khan’s car crash case. News anchors interviewed the victim’s widow and mother and showed the family living in pathetic conditions with no one to support them. Why the public prosecutor has not demanded ransom and support from Salman Khan for the widow of victim Nurullah who died in the crash? Did the sessions court judge ask Salman Khan if he intends to support the family of deceased and others who were injured?
In an earlier NDTV interview Salman Khan had himself commented that a Dabang judge is needed to close the pending court cases against him. In reality, the sessions court and public prosecutor should have focused for more justice for the victims rather than punishment for Salman Khan.
Salman Khan gets punishment, he goes to jail and law meets its end but what about the victims? Who is going to take care of them? The victim’s widow and mother spoke to several TV news cameras that having no earning person in family it is hard for them to get daily meals. Will someone heed to that? The media is also silent, except few news channels showing the family of victims. Why no editorial is written by major newspapers urging sessions court to include the victim’s family for justice.
Now the case is under Mumbai High court review. Let there be a social media campaign for justice to victims. The High court must weigh compensation to victims in ratio for punishment to Salman Khan. The more he needs freedom, the more he should pay to victims.
Personally, I feel a Dabang judge should ask Salman Khan to take the victim’s widow and mother to his house and treat them as his own family. That would be a justice meeting both ends. It is the responsibility of Salman Khan to support the family of the victim who died in the crash and also help others who were seriously injured and incapacitated. Have comment? Please email sidakl@yahoo.com.
A.Q. Siddiqui
