Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday urged the citizens to switch off their household lights tonight at 9 pm for 9 minutes as appealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The whole of India will give a unique message to the world with its determination at exactly 9 o’clock tonight,” Singh tweeted out.

“Light your candle or mobile flashlight at your home’s door or the balcony. # 9 PM9minute,” Singh’s tweet read.

Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also resounded Singh’s message and urged the countrymen to participate in the 9-minute blackout tonight.

Gadkari said that by following PM Modi’s call to light diyas, candles or flashlights tonight we all will have to walk away from the darkness spread by coronavirus onto the path of light and from despair to hope.

The Prime Minister also took to Twitter and reminded everyone to light candles and diyas tonight while switching off household lights.

He also shared a video of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reciting one of his famous poems to remind people to light diyas on Sunday.

“Aao, phir se diya jalayein (Come, let’s light a lamp once again),” PM Modi tweeted.

In a release by the power ministry on Saturday, the government said that the move is a voluntary one and applies only to residences. The call is only to switch off residential lights and does not apply to household appliances, fans, et cetera. Hospitals, public utility services, government and essential services will continue to work. The ministry also clarified that there will be no effect on the grid due to the move.