‘No respect for creative industries’: Minister Vaishnaw slams Congress over arrest of Allu Arjun | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday criticized the Congress government in Telangana over the arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun following the stampede at Sandhya Theater in Hyderabad 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, seriously injured.
Vaishnaw told The Sandhya Theater accident was a clear case of bad dealings by the state and local administration. To deflect that blame, they are now indulging in such publicity stunts.”
He added, “The Telangana government should stand by those affected and hold the organizers accountable instead of targeting film personalities. It is sad to see such cases becoming common during the first year of Congress 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 theater management. However, later on the same day, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail.
Authorities claimed that the lack of prior information about the actor’s presence contributed to the chaos.
Reacting to the tragedy, Allu Arjun expressed his condolences and announced a financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh for Revathi’s family. He also assured that 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.