NEW DELHI: PM Modi in his Mann Ki Baat, marked 50 years since the Emergency by calling it an era of fear and censorship. Tragedy struck in Odisha as a stampede at Puri’s Rath Yatra left three dead and 12 critical, prompting the suspension of senior police officials. Meanwhile, SpaceX overcame storm delays to launch 27 Starlink satellites, boosting global internet coverage. On the lighter side, Mohammed Siraj’s viral “Who broke my bat?” moment during practice ahead of the IND vs ENG Test showed his playful side. And finally, the southwest monsoon made an unusually early sweep across the country, reaching Delhi on June 29 and covering India nine days ahead of schedule, the fastest since 2020.Here are the top stories of the day: PM Modi recalls imposition of Emergency in Mann ki BaatPrime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, slammed the 1975 Emergency as a dark chapter in India’s democracy, saying that it was an attempt to “enslave” the judiciary and suppress civil liberties. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Modi played archival clips of Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had recounted the atrocities faced by people during the Emergency period. Without naming Congress, he said the period was marked by fear, censorship, and the systematic stifling of dissent. Read morePuri stampede: Two senior cops suspended, top officials transferredA deadly stampede struck Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra, killing three people and injuring several, with 12 in ICU, after a chaotic crowd surged and trucks reportedly obstructed chariot routes. Former CM Naveen Patnaik blamed “glaring incompetence” and poor crowd management. Odisha’s chief minister suspended two senior police officers and announced financial assistance. Read moreSpacex launches 27 satellites after storm delaysSpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, successfully deploying 27 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit despite earlier storm warnings. The mission showcased SpaceX’s reusability edge by recovering a veteran booster, reinforcing its ongoing effort to expand the Starlink constellation and enhance global internet coverage. Read more‘Who broke my bat?’: Siraj fumes during practice ahead of IND vs ENG 2nd TestMohammed Siraj’s fiery outburst during practice ahead of the second India‑vs‑England Test went viral: when an England player reportedly broke his bat, Siraj was seen visibly fuming on the field. Siraj initially displayed mock anger before breaking into laughter. His lighthearted reaction amid intense match preparations resonated with fans. Read moreMonsoon hits Delhi a day early, covers country 9 days aheadSouthwest monsoon made an early debut this year, hitting Delhi on June 29, a day ahead of schedule, and spreading across the entire country by the same date, nine days earlier than the usual July 8 completion date.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed this marks the fastest full coverage since 2020, signalling timely relief for agriculture and water reserves nationwide. Read more