Opposition leaders slam PM Modi’s call to light diyas on Sunday At 9 pm

Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to turn off lights and light candles (diyas) on April 5 at 9:00 pm to fight the darkness of Coronavirus, opposition leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram slammed PM Modi’s latest address and called for steps to boost growth and said: “serious thought to ideas and measures” was as important as symbolism.

Dear @narendramodi,
We will listen to you and light diyas on April 5. But, in return, please listen to us and to the wise counsel of epidemiologists and economists.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 3, 2020

“Every working man and woman, from business person to daily wage earner, also expected you to announce steps to arrest the economic slide and re-start the engines of economic growth. The people are disappointed on both counts,” Chidambaram added.

“Symbolism is important, but serious thought to ideas and measures is equally important.”

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his today’s video message, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that there was no vision of the future in it and was just a feel-good moment “curated by India’s photo-op Prime Minister”.

“Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people’s pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties,” Tharoor said.

Listened to the Pradhan Showman. Nothing about how to ease people’s pain, their burdens, their financial anxieties. No vision of the future or sharing the issues he is weighing in deciding about the post-lockdown. Just a feel-good moment curated by India’s Photo-Op PrimeMinister!

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 3, 2020

Besides congress leader, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra seems to have a kind of similar tone in her comment on PM Modi’s today’s address.

Mahua Moitra took to Twitter and urged PM Modi to get real and asked him to announce a massive fiscal package amounting to 8-10 per cent of India’s GDP to help fight against Coronavirus war.

“Give India fiscal package worth 8-10pc of GDP. Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown, laws exist permitting this. Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news,” she said.

Turn out lights & come on balconies?

GET REAL MR. MODI!

Give India fiscal pkg worth 8-10pc of GDP

Ensure immediate wages to construction & other labour during lockdown- laws exist permitting this

Stop gagging real press in name of curbing fake news

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) April 3, 2020

It is to be noted that this is the second collective call that Prime Minister has made since his March 22 Janata Curfew, when millions step out to their balconies, doorsteps and windows and clapped and clanged utensils appreciating those at the frontline of the fight against coronavirus, like doctors, nurses and civic staff.