- Modi urged people to maintain social distancing norms while undertaking the exercise
- India has so far reported 2,423 covid-19 cases, with death toll at 66
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to everyone to voluntarily adopt a blackout at 9 pm on Sunday and light a lamp, candle or shine a mobile flashlight for nine minutes.
Modi urged people to maintain social distancing norms while undertaking the exercise.
“India is united in its fight against the corona pandemic”, Modi said in a national address on Friday, his third address since 19 March on covid-19 that has now killed 66 Indians and infected 2,423.
“We should make this promise in that light that we are not alone and no one is alone,” the prime minister added.
This is the second such exercise called by Modi after he called for its citizen’s to commend the efforts of those fighting against the pandemic.
“Social distancing Lakshman Rekha should never be crossed and should not be broken in any case,” Modi said in a video message that lasted for around nine minutes.
India has been in a lockdown since 25 March and which will last until the 14 April as of now. Only essential services are allowed to function during the period because of which businesses have shut down and country is almost ground to a halt.
On the 9th day of the lockdown, Modi lauded the efforts and discipline of citizens and said, “The way you lauded the efforts of people fighting against coronavirus on 22 March. Many countries are emulating our efforts.”
Recognising that disease is not uniformly spreading, the Centre on Thursday had sought suggestions from states to formulate an approach to lift the curbs gradually.
Prime Minister Modi in a video conference with state chief ministers on Thursday had asked them to set up task forces to make suggestions for a gradual lifting of lockdown for the country, which houses about a fifth of world population.
“It has made us aware of our collective strength,” Modi said in his address.
“Some could also think that how can they fight this big fight alone, there will be others who are thinking how many more days in this is the time of lockdown. None of us are alone, the collective strength of 130 crore people is with us during lockdown, but we are not alone, the collective strength of entire country is with each one of us. The greatness of this togetherness is important,” he added.
