New Delhi: Indian National Congress led by its former chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday organized a Twitter campaign with hashtag #SpeakUpForDemocracy for calling out of the BJP for destroying the country’s democracy using various means.
The campaign soon fetched enough tweets to become the top trending topic on Twitter India. It soon appeared in the top five trending topics worldwide on the micro-blogging site. By 4:30 pm the campaign had grossed over 3 lakh tweets and was placed fourth in the worldwide trending topics.
Several top national leaders of the party including Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, and others took part in the campaign and slammed BJP for trying to systematically destroy the democracy in the country. The users during the campaign also added that the saffron party was using government agencies and “muscle power” to gain power in various states and was toppling elected governments.
The dig was focused more on the recent Rajasthan political crisis where the party alleges the BJP tried to topple the elected government to gain power using money.
Several users also called on media outlets for glorifying horse-trading by terming it as “master-stroke”.
The official twitter handle of Congress posted short videos of several of its leaders asserting how the BJP was involved in destroying the world’s largest democracy.
Here are some of the tweets from the campaign:
NOTE: The claims made in the tweets embedded below or the ideas presented in them are those solely of the users. Vartha Bharati does not guarantee the authenticity of any of the claims or does not necessarily endorse the ideas, views posted by any of the users.
भारत का लोकतंत्र संविधान के आधार पर जनता की आवाज़ से चलेगा।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 26, 2020
भाजपा के छल-कपट के षड्यंत्र को नकारकर देश की जनता लोकतंत्र और संविधान की रक्षा करेगी।#SpeakUpForDemocracy
In the last 6 years BJP has undermined every law, institution & the Constitution itself to ensure they destabilize Congress Govts across states. They have legalized horse trading & made it the new normal to come to power at any cost. #SpeakUpForDemocracy
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 26, 2020
It is high time the people of the country know the truth about BJP’s anti-democratic motives.
— SS Kim (@KimHaokipINC) July 26, 2020
It is high time the BJP gets exposed. #SpeakUpForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/r2PS8JSG58
I join millions of Indians to #SpeakUpForDemocracy to raise our voice agnst #Modi Sarkar's continous assault on our democracy/constitution & demand dat #BJP Govt stop d anti-democratic toppling of elected govt's & dat #Rajasthan Governor convene Assembly Session,as per CM advise. pic.twitter.com/WJs5pzostt
— Sanjay Dutt (@SanjaySDutt) July 26, 2020
Shri @kcvenugopalmp's message on BJP's blatant misuse of power to topple the democratically elected Congress Govt of Rajasthan.#SpeakUpForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/dYcHXDyBlA
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 26, 2020
CHRONOLOGY SAMAJHIYE
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) July 26, 2020
1. Do favours for corporates
2. Take money from corporates
3. Pay Media
4. Pay IT cell trolls
5. Pay Voters in Elections
6. Buy MLAs to form Govt
7. Do CBI/IT/ED raids
8. Give retirement jobs to judges
9. PR gimmicks
10. Loot in Power#SpeakUpForDemocracy
Horse trading is not a master stroke .
— Lavanya Ballal | ಲಾವಣ್ಯ ಬಲ್ಲಾಳ್ (@LavanyaBallal) July 26, 2020
It’s murder of democracy #SpeakUpForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/KKihBxdu22
BJP lost power in 2 Assembly elections out of 4 & could retain only Haryana that too with coalition govt!
— Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) July 26, 2020
India has rejected BJP & only way for them to retain power is
• To Use Money and Muscle Power
• To Misuse Govt Agencies
• To kill democracy #SpeakUpForDemocracy
#SpeakUpForDemocracy ! Lust for power of Shah/ Narender destroying democracy! Pl speak up ! pic.twitter.com/Oo3YJRhyhH
— Manickam Tagore MP??✋மாணிக்கம் தாகூர் (@manickamtagore) July 26, 2020
BJP through their undemocratic means is trying to snatch away people’s power to vote & elect govt.
— Shivani Chopra (@ShivaniChopra_) July 26, 2020
This is serious & can’t be overlooked. We the people cannot let BJP take away our power from us.
It’s time to bring People’s Movement alive.
It’s time we #SpeakUpForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/KIfgzu2akW
What are we witnessing in our country today?
— Jebi Mather (@JebiMather) July 26, 2020
Constitution & Democracy have become meaningless.
To make Democracy meaningful, we demand:
1. Stop toppling elected govts.
2. Call Rajasthan assembly session soon. #SpeakUpForDemocracy @INCIndia @IYC @INCKerala @IYCKerala pic.twitter.com/6aHebFB1QM
#SpeakUpForDemocracy before they take away our democracy!
— Hasiba | حسيبة ? (@HasibaAmin) July 26, 2020
Every fascist leader in the world was democratically elected before destroying democracy at home country
— Proffesor (@Proffes10223951) July 26, 2020
Now is the time to stand up or suffer the massacare very soon#SpeakUpForDemocracy
#SpeakUpForDemocracy trends on top in India and 5th Globally ! This is the voice of India ! pic.twitter.com/gUh2eKyOdB
— Rohan Gupta (@rohanrgupta) July 26, 2020
#SpeakUpForDemocracy is a worldwide trend now. Keep raising your voice to save our democracy. pic.twitter.com/zLwOkgbcFh
— Ruchira Chaturvedi (@RuchiraC) July 26, 2020
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.