Several Indian athletes have come out in support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request to the citizens of the country to turn off their lights at home and light candles, diyas or torchlights for nine minutes at 9 PM on Sunday April 5th. On Saturday, speedster Jasprit Bumrah too joined the bandwagon urging his fans to use the power of light to show solidarity in India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“That feeling of every fan shining their phone’s flashlight & bursting into applause & cheer when we deliver a knockout performance, is unparalleled! @BCCI Team India, let’s hit this virus out of the park! April 5, 9 PM, 9 minutes Show your support! @narendramodi” Bumrah tweeted.
That feeling of every fan shining their phone’s flashlight & bursting into applause & cheer when we deliver a knockout performance, is unparalleled! @BCCI
Team India, let’s hit this virus out of the park!
April 5, 9 PM, 9 minutesShow your support!@narendramodi
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) April 4, 2020
Bumrah’s colleagues, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya had also shared similar messages on their respective social media account earlier, asking their followers to light up their homes and balconies with diyas, candles or mobile flash lights for nine minutes on Sunday.
5th April 9pm for 9min
Stand up ! Light up !
Show us your roar, ignite the spirit of a billion hearts and throw this virus off our pitch without a hitch !The spotlight is on you, together, we can win ! @narendramodi @BCCI
— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) April 4, 2020
Let’s shine our lights on the Frontline Warriors who are showing us the path from this darkness!
Let’s ignite the spirits of a billion strong TEAM INDIA @BCCI
From our Dressing room, to your Doorstep, the Lakshman Rekha has been drawn…
We are with you @narendramodi ji !
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) April 4, 2020
In his address to the nation PM Modi asked his fellow countrymen to unite for this bigger cause and show solidarity in the country’s battle against the pandemic.
“There is no bigger force than our conviction and resolve. There is nothing we cannot achieve with these forces,” the Prime Minister declared.
Following the decision of a lockdown, the Prime Minister held a discussion with several sporting personalities through a video conference, which included the likes of PV Sindhu, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virat Kohli, PT Usha, Vishwanathan Anand and others; urging them to spread awareness about the importance to stay at home to their wide fan base.
Many sportsters have also come forward to help the government by donating generously to the relief funds. The BCCI has donated ₹51 crore to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund (PM CARES Fund), while the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina also contributed to their respective state funds.
As of now India has registered over 2700 cases of the Covid-19 pandemic with more than 50 deaths recorded.
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