BJP’s online poll backfires: Majority say Congress won’t reimpose emergency if voted back to power
New Delhi: An online poll conducted by the BJP on its official X handle (@BJP4India) appears to have backfired, with over 70% of respondents rejecting the idea that the Congress would reimpose Emergency if it returned to power. The poll, launched on June 25 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, aimed to stir public memory about the suspension of democratic rights in 1975.
The BJP, which frequently invokes the Emergency to target the Congress, might not have anticipated the outcome of its own poll. By Thursday afternoon, more than 23,000 people had voted, with 70.9% saying No, and only 29.1% agreeing that Congress would bring back Emergency.
The result raised eyebrows, especially considering the poll came from the verified handle of the BJP, which has a follower base of 23.2 million. Critics pointed to this as a rare moment of the ruling party's formidable IT cell appearing to be caught napping.
Beneath the poll, users flooded the replies with posts juxtaposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure with headlines on alleged threats to democracy, ranging from suppression of dissent, misuse of central agencies, media censorship, hate speech, and violence against marginalised communities.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking at a press conference the same day, termed the BJP’s “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” campaign an attempt to distract from the “real Emergency” in the country, marked by rising authoritarianism, curbs on press freedom, and institutional erosion.
Later in the day, the Union Cabinet passed a resolution commemorating June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, stating that 50 years ago, India's democratic values were "subverted," and that the Emergency was a dark chapter where “federalism was undermined and fundamental rights suspended.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who first proposed observing June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas in 2024, spoke at an event in Delhi marking the day. He hailed Modi’s role in the anti-Emergency movement, describing how the young activist went underground, adopting various disguises including a sadhu and a newspaper vendor.
“Divine justice has taken place,” Shah said. “The same young man who fought Indira Gandhi’s dictatorship brought an end to dynastic politics in 2014.”
However, online reactions to the BJP's commemorative efforts were mixed, with many using the platform to highlight what they described as the current government's own failings in upholding democratic values.
While online polls are unofficial and often vulnerable to manipulation by bots or campaigners with pre-set agendas, the overwhelming response in this case suggests the BJP’s narrative may not be resonating as intended, at least not in the digital public square.
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Chhattisgarh Vedanta power plant blast: Death toll rises to 20; sixteen workers undergoing treatment
Sakti (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has mounted to 20 with seven more workers succumbing to injuries, while 16 others are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, officials said on Wednesday.
The deceased include six labourers from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, three each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, two from Bihar, and one from Madhya Pradesh.
The opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries.
According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to injuries soon after the incident.
Seven more workers have died in hospitals, raising the toll to 20, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno told PTI on Wednesday.
He said that a total of 36 workers were affected in the blast, and 20 of them died.
"Of the 16 injured workers, five are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Raipur, while 11 others are in hospitals of Raigarh, the neighbouring district of Sakti," he added.
Topno added that every possible effort was being made to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.
The deceased were identified, and their family members are being contacted. Arrangements have been made to transport the mortal remains to their native villages via ambulance following the postmortem examination and to provide immediate financial assistance, he said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
Vedanta Power has also announced a Rs 35 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased worker, along with employment support.
The company will also provide Rs 15 lakh to each injured person, ensure salary continuation until recovery, and offer counselling support, a statement from the plant management said.
The chief minister has ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division, assuring strict action against the guilty.
He directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured and emphasised that no negligence in their care would be tolerated.
The district administration has also ordered a separate magisterial probe, while the company has initiated its own internal investigation.
Collector Topno has appointed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dabhra to conduct the magisterial inquiry.
The SDM has been asked to submit a report within 30 days covering key aspects, including the cause of the accident, whether it was due to technical or human error, and details of safety inspections carried out at the plant.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday alleged negligence on the plant management's part and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible.
He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured.
The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, started in 2009, but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022.
Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is still under construction.
The deceased have been identified as Amrit Lal Patel, Thanda Ram Lahre, Udhab Singh Yadav, Rameshwar Mahilange, and Nadeem Ansari (all from Chhattisgarh); Susanta Jana, Sheikh Saifuddin, Manas Giri, Kailash Mahto, Shibnath Murmu, and Dipankar Singh (West Bengal), Tarun Kumar Ojha, Abdul Karim and Ashok Parhiya (Jharkhand), Raju Ram, Pappu Kumar and Brijesh Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Aakib Khan and Ritesh Kumar (Bihar), and Chitranjan Dhulai of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.
