‘Do you think I would be so insensitive?’: Allu Arjun’s response hours after CM blamed him for Pushpa 2 stampede death

Hours after Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s outburst against actor Allu Arjun in the Legislative Assembly, the Pushpa 2 lead star responded that he had not defied police instructions.

“As soon as I came to know about the problem outside the theatre, I left. Only the next morning did I come to know that a woman had died and her son was critically injured. I did not know about this that night. It is a very unfortunate incident. It has never happened in my 20 years of cine career. I am not blaming anyone, either the police or government, for this incident. This is a very unfortunate incident, which should not have happened. I earned this respect as an actor over 22 years in the film industry and my character is being assassinated overnight. I have gone to this theatre 20-30 times but this type of incident never happened. I have been told that the police gave permission to visit the theatre, and they themselves were guiding my vehicle towards the theatre. On the instance of the police and security personnel that I should come out and wave so they can clear the crowds, I came out of my vehicle and waved to the fans. It would have looked arrogant of me if they waited for so long and if I did not wave to them,” he said.

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“I was in the theatre with my wife and two children. Do you think that with my kids in tow, I would be so insensitive to the situation? Do you think if the police told me that a woman had died and a child was in the hospital, I would have been so inhumane not to go away from the theatre if the police told me that my presence had caused the mishap?” he said.

Also Read | Allu Arjun’s father Allu Aravind visits Pushpa 2 premiere stampede victim in hospital, says actor asked by hospital not to visit the child

“I tried to go and meet the father and child but I have been consistently told that if I visit, there would be a law and order situation again because huge crowds will gather there. As my request to visit the child was denied, I sent my father, I sent other people to visit the child and his father. We have promised that we will take care of the family,” he said.

Arjun said that he is disappointed and pained by the allegations that he was insensitive and inhumane in dealing with the case. He assured that he will take care of the child as long as he needs. “The character assassination that is going on against me is unfortunate,” he said, without naming anyone.

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His comments came after the CM accused Arjun of defying police orders and not only visiting the theatre, but not going away from the theatre when instructed by the cops.