Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people of India on Friday to hold a nationwide candlelight vigil at their homes this Sunday for nine minutes, beginning exactly at 9pm in a show of unity and solidarity in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, reported The Telegraph.
“Switch off all household lights and light up a candle, diya or your mobile flashlight on your balcony or terrace to together resolve to fight the Coronavirus and emerge victorious,” he said in a 10-12 minute video message to the nation.
Modi said it was important for every Indian to realise that he or she wasn’t alone I this fight. “We must together invoke the spirit of Bharat Mata and ensure that the dark clouds of the virus make way for the light hope,” he said.
Modi iterated that while taking part in this show of solidarity on Sunday, April 9, no one should venture out or gather in public places. “The lakshmanrekha of social distancing, the only way to fight the virus, should never be crossed,” he said.
At the start of his address, Modi lauded the exemplary role played by the people of India in respecting the lockdown. “There is no need to feel despondent. You are not alone. We are all in this together,” he said.
The Prime Minister has so far addressed the nation twice since the pandemic became a cause for serious concern in India. In his first address on March 19, he called for a one-day Janata Curfew.
In his second address on March 24, Modi announced a national lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Additionally, he has kept open communication channels with the people by tweeting regularly and urging citizens to strictly follow social distancing and lockdown rules.
In the last few days, the Prime Minister has also shared videos on yoga for people to try during their stay-at-home period.
As on Thursday night, India has registered 2,069 confirmed coronavirus cases with 432 overnight additions. There has been 53 deaths so far. As many as 156 patients have been discharged.
At a meeting with chief ministers on Thursday afternoon, Modi asked for a common plan to ensure staggered movement of people after the national lockdown ends.
“It is important to formulate a common exit strategy to ensure staggered re-emergence of the population once the lockdown ends,” PM Modi emphasised, urging states to come up with suggestions.
Government officials and doctors believe that the next 15 days are crucial in India’s battle against the Covid-19 outbreak. All efforts were being made to contain the spread of the disease during, government officials said.
The effort, the emphasised, was to flatten the curve of infected cases in this period and sustain it over April.
Underlining that India was the first to stop incoming travellers from abroad, from March 13, officials said the “positive impact” of the decision should be seen by the end of the month as all positive coronavirus cases in India so far have been related to people coming from abroad and that it takes one-two weeks for the symptoms to appear.
“It was a major call (on March 11) and some termed it sudden but it came quickly in a few hours after the WHO (World Health Organization) declared coronavirus a global pandemic and our assessment of the cases,” said a senior official, who did not want to be named.
“The US, with far more cases, announced a ban only on travel from Europe soon after and is now planning to expand it. The bar on incoming travellers was raised thereafter by India and we are ahead of the curve.”
The Prime Minister has also been in touch with leaders in SAARC countries as well as G20, aiming at both regional and international partnerships to take on the epidemic, amid an early acknowledgement that no country had the expertise to fight Covid-19 alone.
