Muslims safe in India, need to put Gujarat riots behind: Salim Khan

Bollywood scriptwriter Salim Khan said Muslims need to put behind the memories of the 2002 Gujarat riots and move forward, while insisting the community finds itself safe in the country. "When my mother died, I felt I won’t be able to live. But I am alive today; even my father died long back. Should I cry till now? No one can justify that (the riots). It should never have happened. I am sure (Narendra) Modi has learnt the lesson and that no one will die in his regime," Salim, father of superstar Salman Khan, said.

"Muslims find themselves safe in this country. They only need basic amenities, jobs, education, food."

Khan, who called himself a former Congress loyalist, said he was disappointed with the party. "I was a Congress loyalist... I used to vote for them. I am disappointed with them on certain issues. But even if today they have any good candidate, I will support them," he said.

He also said it is not a party but people who are secular. "No party is secular, people are secular. I am secular. In my family, there are people following different religions. For me all religions are one," he said.

Khan said political parties had offered him tickets several times to contest elections but he was not interested.

Khan also launched the Urdu version of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Modi’s official website — www.narendramodi.in — from his residence in suburban Bandra, with BJP leader Shaina N C.

"I have friends in the BJP, the Shiv Sena as well. I have been offered ticket to contest elections but I am not interested in this," he said.