The Bharatiya Janata Party and its satellite organisations have taken up cudgels against Bollywood star Salman Khan.

On Thursday, newspapers published transcripts of telephone conversations purportedly between Khan and another Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai, in which Salman tries to bully her into performing for an event organised by gangster Abu Salem and threatens her with his underworld connections.

"It is a very serious issue and howsoever big, no artist is greater than the law. The government should take
action against him if the allegations are found to be true," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.

CM promises Salman inquiry

The screening of Salman's film Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, which released today, was withheld in several cities in Madhya Pradesh. The first show of the movie was deferred in Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior after protests and demonstrations by Bajrang Dal cadres, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) A K Soni said. No loss or damage to theatres was reported.

Fearing violence, cinema hall owners and distributors voluntarily withdrew the screening of the film.

Though most tickets were booked in advance, the crowd turnout at the theatres was bleak as activists shouted
slogans, tore posters and burnt effigies of the actor in front of the cinema halls.

Security was beefed up in all cities in the state and senior officials were keeping a close watch over the situation.

"We will not resort to hard measures if the cinema hall owners keep away from screening the film of a traitor," BJP
Bhopal city convenor Devendra Rawat said.