.jpg)
A day after Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s public endorsement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that infuriated opposition parties in Sri Lanka as well as Tamil Nadu, former Miss Sri Lanka and Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez yesterday said, “If Salaman wants to drum up support for Rajapaksa that's his choice and nobody can question it."
Speaking up for the actor, Jacqueline said that it was she who insisted that Salman extend the efforts of his Being Human charity to parts of her home country too. "That was the main purpose of this visit. Salman donated 200 lenses to facilitate cataract operations in certain under-privileged areas. He also donated money. It bothers me that people can't see the good in any initiative. All they want to do is identify an ulterior agenda behind every good cause," the former Miss Sri Lanka groused.
When it was pointed out that rather than a charity endeavour, the trip seemed to be an attempt to bolster Rajapaksa's chances at the upcoming elections, with Salman adding star power to his campaign, Jacqueline retorted, "Salman is an individual in his own right who knows both Rajapaksa and his son Namal well. If he wants to drum up support for Rajapaksa that's his choice and nobody can question it."
However, she was quick to point out that her participation was limited to volunteering for the charity. "My political views are personal and I'd like them to remain so," she said. When asked if she's worried about the backlash in India, she said, "I'd rather focus on the awareness we've spread rather than this silly
circus." (Times of India)
