Ministers in Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Cabinet, Nawab Malik and Balasaheb Thorat, have on Friday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a "unique exercise" for the citizens of India to do on Sunday, April 5.
PM Modi urged the people to turn their lights off and light candles, diyas or turn on their mobile torches on April 5 at 9 pm for 9 minutes to show that Indians are together in the fight against coronavirus.
"On this Sunday, April 5, we will challenge the darkness of coronavirus threat together. On April 5, at 9 pm, I need your 9 minutes. At 9 pm, turn off all the lights in your houses and light a Diya, candle, torch or flashlight for 9 minutes at your doors, or balcony," Modi said.
NCP leader Nawab Malik said that Prime Minister's speech a 9 am was disappointing for the Indians. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "I thought that it was a matter of burning the stove, but the PM preached to burn the lamp."
Congress leader and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the Prime Minister should stop doing publicity stunts and take some concrete steps instead.
He wrote, "After the plate and claps, the program of lamps is being introduced. The nation doesn't need events but hospitals, ventilators and COVID-19 Test labs. Labourers need food. Because of this @PMOIndia stop doing publicity stunts and take some concrete steps.
Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad also slammed PM Modi for his appeal. He said that Modi cannot make a fool out of India every time he wants. The Housing Minister added that he won't switch off his lights. "I don't mind disobeying you and following my instincts and helping the poor," he said.
Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases rose to 2183 in India, said ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). The total death count in the country rose to 56 on Friday.
