Opposition slams Narendra Modi's 'diya', 'candle' call

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people to switch off lights in their homes and light candles, diyas or turn on mobile phone flashlights at 9 pm on Sunday in a nationwide show of solidarity to fight the pandemic.

“On the 5th of April, at 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your homes, stand at your doors or in you balconies, and light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights for 9 minutes. I repeat, light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights, for 9 minutes at 9 pm on the 5th of April,” the prime minister said.

At the same time, Modi asked people against thronging streets.

The Opposition slammed Modi over his new call, saying they had expected him to announce a second financial package.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described Modi as “Pradhan Showman” and a “Photo-Op Prime Minister”, while former finance minister P Chidambaram advised the PM to listen to the Opposition and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists.

“What we expected from you today was FAP II (Financial Action Plan), a generous livelihood support package for the poor, including the categories of the poor who were completely ignored by Nirmala Sitharaman on March 25,” Chidambaram said.

“Turn out lights and come on balconies? Get real Mr Modi. Give India a fiscal package worth 8-10 per cent of GDP,” Trinamool Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra said.

“This is no accident: the PM spoke on Ram Navami at 9 am for 9 mins, asked us to light diyas & candles on 5/4 at 9 pm for 9 mins. He is invoking all the auspicious elements Hinduism associates with number 9. Back to Ram Bharose?! #COVID19 must be more serious than we thought,” Tharoor said.

The leaders’ remarks came after Modi gave pep talk to the people under lockdown and urged them to light a candle or ‘diya’ on April 5 at 9 pm for nine minutes to dispel the darkness and gloom brought about by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.