This Article is From Jan 23, 2011

Salman flags off Jaipur half marathon, Bishnoi people protest

Salman flags off Jaipur half marathon, Bishnoi people protest

Highlights

  • Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was met by black flags when he arrived here to inaugurate the Jaipur half marathon today.
  • The Bishnoi community and environment activists protested against Khan's presence at the event as the actor was convicted for killing black bucks, an endangered species, in 2006.
Jaipur: Bollywood superstar Salman Khanwas met by black flags when he arrived here to inaugurate theJaipur half marathon today.

The Bishnoi community and environment activistsprotested against Khan's presence at the event as the actorwas convicted for killing black bucks, an endangered species,in 2006.

"We are not against the event, but against the actorSalman Khan who was involved in killing of black bucks inJodhpur. He attends functions here due to the state ministerBina Kak who treats him like her son, but he has hurt thefeelings of Bishnoi community who have sacrificed their livesfor the sake of animals and trees," Raju Bishnoi, who led theprotest said.

"We had also intimated CM Ashok Gehlot few days backthat we will not tolerate him attending the function, but hecame and attended, so we staged the protest," he said.

The protesters however were dispersed by the policeand the event went off smoothly with thousands of peopleincluding sportspersons from different states and countriesparticipating in the half marathon.

.