Babul Supriyo slams Abhijeet's views on pavement dwellers

Union minister Babul Supriyo on Wednesday came down heavily on Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya for his comments criticising people sleeping on roads, in the wake of superstar Salman Khan getting a five-year jail term for the 2002 hit-and-run case.

"I definitely don't support his views since being the union minister of state for urban development, I know the context in which people sleep on the streets.

"I would like to clarify in person in what context he said this. This is not from a sane state of mind," Supriyo, the singer-turned-minister of state for urban development, and for housing and urban poverty alleviation, told a TV channel.

Amid tweets from fans and Bollywood celebrities after Salman's conviction, Abhijeet said roads were meant for cars and dogs and not for people to sleep on.

The singer took to the micro-blogging website to share a series of tweets after Additional Sessions Judge D.W. Deshpande on Wednesday announced the verdict in a packed courtroom.

"Kutta rd pe soyega kutte ki maut marega, roads garib ke baap ki nahi hai (If a dog sleeps on the road, he'll die a dog's death. Roads are not poor people's property) I ws homles an year nvr slept on rd @BeingSalmanKhan @sonakshisinha (sic)," he tweeted.

"Roads are meant for cars and dogs not for people sleeping on them.. @BeingSalmanKhan is not at fault at all...@arbaazSkhan @sonakshisinha".

The singer even urged the film industry to come out and support Salman.

"Come out fraternity, support @BeingSalmanKhan boldly not hypocriticly Roads footpath r not meant 4 sleeping, not driver's or alcohol's fault," he tweeted.