Hyderabad: Telangana MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi slammed an actor, without naming him, for being unmoved by the stampede that took place outside the theatre where he was present.
Akbaruddin, younger brother of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, said in the state assembly that according to information he received from his sources, the actor, who was sitting inside the theatre, declared after the stampede that his film will be a hit now.
Sparking a fresh controversy, Akbaruddin said: “I do not want to take the name of that famous filmstar because I do not want to give him that importance. But sir, according to my information, that filmstar went to a theatre to see the movie. He was sitting, there was a commotion, after that the police came and said that there was a stampede, two children fell down, and a woman died. The filmstar smiled and said that the picture is going to be a hit now.”
“Two children were caught in the stampede. A woman died. Even after that he (filmstar) sat there and watched the whole movie. After that he got up but even at that time he did not care about the stampede. He sat in his car and went away waving,” he continued.
“But where is his humanity?” questioned the MLA.
He further pointed out that during his political rallies, he always makes sure no stampede takes place as thousands of people turn up.
“I also go for public meetings where thousands of people come. I make sure that there is no stampede, Sir. I make sure the security around me doesn’t push the people so that nobody gets caught in a stampede. I went for the Maharashtra election, thousands and lakhs of people were there, Sir. I made sure that nobody is pushed,” said Owaisi.
Calling out the unnamed actor, the MLA said, “Sir, I remember once my security official’s cap had fallen down while protecting me. He had to do his duty. He was protecting me. So I went down and picked up his cap, Sir. But here you see, Sir, a woman dies, two small children were caught in the stampede, one is under coma and that gentlemen doesn’t even bother to go and ask and see them. And goes waving like that. If I am wrong, please correct me, sir.”
Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy criticised Allu Arjun for paying a surprise visit to the Sandhya theatre even after the state police had denied him permission citing difficulties in crowd management.
The CM claimed that the actor didn’t leave the hall even after the stampede and the state police had to force him out of the theatre.
Slamming film personalities for celebrating Allu’s bail at his residence, the CM said, “Film personalities went in queue to enquire at Allu Arjun’s home but not one of them went to enquire about the woman who died or her son who is in a coma for almost 20 days. What should we think about film industry elders? They are ready to criticise the government and me but not one of them reached out to the family.”
On December 4, Allu Arjun’s surprise visit to Sandhya theatre for the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ led to a stampede, which left a 35-year-old woman dead and her minor son critically injured.
Based on a complaint registered by the victim’s family, the Hyderabad police registered a case against the actor, his security team, and the theatre management under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The actor was arrested on December 13, but was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court the same evening. He was released on December 14.
The Telangana CM firmly stated that there won’t be any special privilege given to celebrities in future and the state government would not spare those who break the rules.
