Incredible solidarity was observed across the northeast to unite against the threat of COVID-19 and to cheer all those fighting against it with the people switching off the lights of their homes at 9 p.m. on Sunday night and lighting diyas, candles, torches or mobile flashlights.
Troops of the Army's Red Horns Division switched off their home lights and lit lamps, and diyas.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, sharing a photo of him lighting a diya on Twitter, posted: "Joined the people of India in lighting lamps at my residence (in Guwahati) on the call of PM @narendramodi ji. We are united and together, we will defeat COVID-19."
Flashing mobile lights, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a tweet: "I am elated to join billion fellow Indians in igniting rays of our mighty resolve and collective will to fight COVID-19 pandemic. These diyas illuminate our hearts with positivity and strengthen our moral courage.Grateful PM @narendramodi for forever inspiring."
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, his wife Niti Deb and their children posed with earthen lamps as part of the "9 PM-9 Minutes programme" announced earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a means to support heathcare professionals in the war against novel coronavirus.
"It was an incredible moment today (Sunday) joining our countrymen with lighted Diyas to dispel the darkness spread by COVID-19. Thanks to @narendramodi Ji for this auspicious initiative. I believe, this unity will surely register win over COVID-19 pandemic," Deb said in a tweet.
"We are in this together. India united at 9 pm 9 minute," Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh said in a tweet.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu displayed many photographs on lighting lamps in his Twitter handle. "Have switched off the lights at my home and lit diyas. Country stands firmly with PM @narendramodi ji in this fight against COVID-19," he wrote.
Following Modi's appeal, people across the country came out at balconies, terraces, doorsteps and courtyards of their houses to do the exercise for nine minutes.
Braving the scorching heat, Tripura East records over 80 pc turnout
Despite the scorching heat, over 80 per cent of the 14 lakh voters cast their votes in the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held under a heavy security cover on Friday.
NCPCR initiates action against Mehbooba Mufti for 'using school children for election campaign'
In a significant development, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Friday took cognisance of a report on 'X' accusing PDP President and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat candidate Mehbooba Mufti of using school children for campaigning in the election.
PM Modi takes opposition to cleaners on EVMs, once again
Calling it a "historic day", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the Supreme Court's decision to dismiss a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
LS Poll: Over 1000 villagers did not cast vote; shows protest against bad road condition, improper drinking water facility
Over 1000 villagers of Maldapara of Gandacherra subdivision in Dhalai Tripura district on Friday boycotted the second phase of polling to East Tripura constituency and refrained from casting their vote as part of their agitation against bad condition of road in their village.
PM Modi roasts Cong, says former PM's video on 'priority for Muslims' demolishes its canards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stepped up his offensive on the Congress and said that his plainspeak on the party’s double standards has ruffled many feathers in the INDIA bloc, so much so, that they have launched a tirade at him for speaking the truth.
CBI recovers huge cache of arms, explosives from house of Shahjahan’s relative at Sandeshkhali
The CBI on Friday afternoon conducted a raid at the residence of a relative of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District and seized a huge cache of firearms and explosives.
Tripura records 54.47% turnout recorded till 1 PM in 2nd phase polling to East
The second phase of polling for the East Tripura Parliamentary constituency is underway amid tight security coverage, while 54.47% voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Friday. Voting commenced at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm. Tripura recorded the highest turnout at 36.42 per cent till 11 am.
DMs, SPs of violence-hit MP districts transferred
The farmers agitation entered its eighth day on Thursday. The peasants have been on strike since June 1, demanding loan waiver and fair price for their produce.