Salman's patriotic: Bal Thackeray

Just two days after slamming Salman Khan's remarks on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as anti-national, Shiv Sena today said there was no reason to harbour anger against the actor as his family is patriotic in the true sense.

"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 an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"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, in an apparent jibe at Salman's remarks about 'hype' over the terror attacks because the rich were targeted.

It is good that Salman was not adamant like Shah Rukh Khan, the editorial said.

In February, Shah Rukh Khan had apologised for the controversy over his remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL but made it clear the regret was not directed towards the Shiv Sena, which staged violent protests against screening of the movie 'My Name Is Khan'.

"Salman's family is patriotic and it is with this responsibility that he should speak and avoid talking on anything but movies," the editorial added.

Salman Khan had come under fire for claiming during an interview to a Pakistani channel that the 26/11 attacks were hyped because the "elite" were targetted. He had later apologised, saying he did not mean to hurt anyone's sentiments.