BJP MP Anurag Thakur defended Telugu actor Allu Arjun, taking a dig at the Opposition Congress on Wednesday by accusing them of attempting to tarnish the actor's image.

The remarks came in response to actions by the Telangana police toward Allu Arjun following a stampede incident at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. The tragedy claimed one life and left several injured.

“If you look at the contribution of Telugu actors in the film industry, they have put the film and Indian cinema on the global map. But some people are trying to pull them down on the floor mat," BJP Minister Anurag Thakur stated.

He further added, “In recent years, Allu Arjun received the National Award under Narendra Modi’s government, and Chiranjeevi was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Their contributions have been celebrated across the country and worldwide. Instead of stirring controversy, efforts should focus on dialogue, ensuring safety, and avoiding politicisation.”

Meanwhile, on December 24, South Indian actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad police regarding the stampede incident during the Pushpa 2 premiere on December 4.

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The father of a boy injured in the incident, Bhaskar, shared positive news on Tuesday, saying, “The child responded after 20 days. He is improving today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government have been supporting us.”

The incident unfolded on December 4, when a massive crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun. The situation spiralled out of control when the actor waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, leading to the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child. Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested but later released on bail after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.