AIMIM

Asaduddin Owaisi

Narendra Modi

coronavirus

This country is not an event management company. The people of India are humans who too have dreams & hopes. Don’t… https://t.co/fMlLWd86PO — Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) 1585907513000

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen () chief and member of Parliamenton Friday slammed Prime Ministerasking him not to reduce lives of people to gimmicks.Owaisi's remark came after Prime Minister urged people to switch off the lights at homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's 'collective resolve' to defeatIn a video message of approximately 11 minutes, Modi also asked people to maintain the 'lakshman rekha' of social distancing by staying indoors and not getting together in groups during the exercise (as some had during the Janta Curfew).Stating that the country is not an event management company, Owaisi said, "The people of India are humans who too have dreams and hopes. Don’t reduce our lives to gimmicks of 9 mins."We wanted to know what aid states will get and what relief the poor will receive. Instead, we got some new drama," he added.In a series of tweets, Owaisi said that an unplanned lockdown has meant more and more suffering for the poorest. "You have left them to the charity of rich and the limited economic abilities of states. When CMs ask you for financial relief, you ask them to switch off their lights? I know you only want #positivevibes and don’t want us to raise some issues but WHERE is the light?"Meanwhile, Maharashtra housing minister Jitendra Awhad also slammed Modi's address and said it was expected that PM Modi would talk about issues such as the plight of the poor because of lockdown to contain coronavirus pandemic, but he disappointed citizens."I don't understand why they want to make an event of everything. This is nothing but foolishness, childishness," said Awhad.