Saifai performance row: Salman Khan bats for Alia Bhatt

Zee Media Bureau/ Gayatri Sankar Mumbai: Salman Khan, who drew public ire for performing at the Saifai Mahotsav organised by Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, has now defended his colleague Alia Bhatt’s participation in the event. Alia, daughter of ace filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, too was criticised for performing at the controversial event. Her father realised the gravity of the situation and apologised for letting her perform. Salman took to Twitter and wrote, “Bhatt saab no need for apology, alia`s upbringing is gr8, was proud to share the stage vit her. Earns her living vit hardwork n dignity (sic).” The UP government, with Akhilesh Yadav as its Chief Minister was criticised for splurging money on Bollywood stars, even as a number of communal riot affected victims in Muzzaffarnagar, were looking for help and quality rehabilitation. Soon after he and his colleagues received brickbats for their performances at the event, Salman was quick enough to justify his performance at the Mahotsav as he took to Facebook to explain that the money that he earned from the event has been directed towards a noble cause. His Facebook page read, “Whenever I visit a place for a performance or a promotion, I see it as an opportunity to help the locals in the areas of healthcare or education. In Nagpur, on Sunday, Being Human pledged to fund 100 paediatric cardiac cases in Maharashtra State. And in Etawah, Being Human, on behalf of all artists who performed yesterday, has committed to fund 200 paediatric heart surgeries in UP (there is already a wait list of 81 children we have received who are being moved to Fortis Hospital Gurgaon and their surgeries will get done by month end and Being Human is in touch with local NGOs and hospitals for their lists also). We have also contributed Rs 25 lakh to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital for the purchase of an Echo Machine, Pediatric & neo natal ventilator and a portable X-ray machine for their paediatric cardiac ICU. (sic).”