Former Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has taken a jibe at PM Modi’s light-a-lamp campaign for Sunday night at 9 pm. The JDS leader has said BJP is indirectly making the whole country celebrate the party’s founding day with the 9 pm plan.

Prime Minister Modi has urged all Indians to come out on their balconies on Sunday night at 9 pm, switch off all lights in the house and light candles, diyas or phone flashlights. The idea is to make Indians currently under lockdown to express solidarity with each other in the ongoing fight against coronavirus.

Opposition leaders, however, have not taken too kindly to the idea.

Kumaraswamy has asked if BJP was hesitant to celebrate the party’s founding day on April 6 and is making all Indians indirectly hold diyas to serve their purpose.

He said, Has the PM slyly asked the nation to observe a candle light vigil on the eve of foundation day of BJP? April 6 being its foundation day, what else can explain the choice of date & time for this event? I challenge the PM to offer a credible scientific and rational explanation.

BJP was hesitant to celebrate its founding day due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now indirectly making whole country hold diyas. PM must clarify why he chose April 5 for this event and if there is any scientific reason behind it. The country has never seen such tough times. In these times do we need to celebrate, asked the former chief minister.

PM Modi had on Friday asked all Indians to light candles or turn on mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the novel coronavirus.

In a video message of over 11 minutes, PM Modi had also asked people to maintain the "lakshman rekha" of social distancing by staying indoors and not getting together in groups during the exercise.