BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has come out in strong support of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, who is embroiled in controversy following a tragic incident during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre, Hyderabad. Thakur criticized the Telangana government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing it of politicizing the tragedy and unfairly targeting the actor.
The Incident
The controversy stems from the December 4 premiere of Pushpa 2, where a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun. The situation spiraled out of control when the actor waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, resulting in chaos. Tragically, a woman named Revathi lost her life, and her child sustained injuries.
In response to the incident, some Congress leaders in Telangana accused Allu Arjun of orchestrating a “roadshow” for publicity, which they allege contributed to the disorder. Allu Arjun has denied these claims, calling the stampede a tragic accident and expressing deep condolences to the victim’s family.
Anurag Thakur’s Remarks
Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Thakur condemned the remarks made by Congress leaders, suggesting they were attempts to tarnish Allu Arjun’s image. He called on the Telangana government to act responsibly and avoid dragging the Telugu film industry into political controversies.
“The South Indian film industry, especially Telugu cinema, has played a crucial role in elevating Indian cinema to global heights. Any effort to malign its stars not only damages their reputation but also disrespects the industry as a whole,” Thakur stated.
Support for Allu Arjun
Thakur emphasized that the incident was an unfortunate accident and urged authorities to focus on improving crowd management at large-scale events rather than blaming individuals. “The safety of fans and public at such gatherings should be a priority. Efforts should be made to ensure such incidents are not repeated,” he said.
Criticism of the Telangana Government
Thakur accused the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government of using the tragedy for political gain. “Instead of addressing the real issues, certain leaders are deflecting blame onto prominent figures like Allu Arjun, which is both unfair and irresponsible,” he added.