So it finally happened! Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally released his much-anticipated video message on day 9 of the coronavirus lockdown on Friday at 9 am. Many speculations were doing the rounds. Some said that the PM will announce an extension of the lockdown. Others said that he might announce new rules for lockdown. (Coronavirus Outbreak Live Updates) Putting all rumours to rest, PM Modi made a unique appeal to the citizens of the country. In a bid to unite the people in battle against coronavirus, PM Modi asked everyone to light a diya/mobile phone flashlight or a candle at 9 pm on April 5. He said that by switching off the lights and lighting the diyas, the citizens will unite everyone and bring others from 'darkness to light'. As soon as teh message got out, social media users got busy doing the best invention since the wheel - MEMES! The 9baje9minute appeal sparked some ROFL memes and we have decided to present to you the best of the best! Drumroll please:
This is the first message by the Prime Minister in April. Last month, he had addressed the nation twice on the COVID-19 crisis. In his first address on March 19, he had told India about the pandemic and how our nation must come together to fight the health crisis. He had called for 'Janta curfew', which was voluntary and very successful. Within a week, he addressed the nation again on March 24 at 8 pm to announce the 21-day lockdown from midnight on the same day. India has so far seen nearly 3,000 confirmed cases and 69 deaths due to COVID-19 infection.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 50,000 people worldwide with nearly three-quarters of the deaths in Europe, according to an AFP tally at 1750 GMT Thursday using official figures. A total of 51,364 deaths have been recorded across the world, including 37,709 in Europe, with Italy registering 13,915, followed by Spain with 10,003, France with 5,387 and the United States with 5,316. Since the virus emerged in China in December, 989,281 global infections have been confirmed, more than half of them in Europe, which has 542,077. The United States and Canada have 235,900 cases and 5,427 deaths and Asia has 112,061 cases with 3,998 deaths.
(With agency inputs)
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