NEW DELHI: Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday criticised the Congress government in Telangana over the arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun following the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident on December 4 claimed the life of 39-year-old Revathi and left her 13-year-old son, Shreethej, critically injured.
Taking to X, Vaishnaw remarked, “Congress has no respect for the creative industry, and the arrest of Allu Arjun proves it yet again. The mishap at Sandhya Theatre was a clear case of poor arrangements by the state and local administration. Now, to deflect that blame, they are indulging in such publicity stunts.”
He further added, “The Telangana Government should assist those affected and hold the organisers accountable instead of targeting film personalities. It is sad to see such instances becoming common during Congress’ one year in power.”
The Hyderabad police arrested Allu Arjun on December 13 on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence, along with his security team and the theatre management. However, he was granted interim bail by Telangana high court later on the same day.
Authorities alleged that the lack of prior intimation about the actor’s presence contributed to the chaos.
In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun expressed his condolences and announced a financial aid of Rs 25 lakh for Revathi’s family. He also assured that the medical expenses for her injured son would be covered. Despite his efforts, the arrest has sparked debate, with many accusing the state government of scapegoating the actor to shift blame for inadequate crowd control.