Goa priest Against ‘light a lamp’ call and suggests alternative
New Delhi: A Catholic priest from the St. Francis Xavier parish in South Goa advised his followers to not follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to light a lamp at 9 pm saying there is no need to do these unnecessary things.
In the video, a live stream mass conducted by Fr. Bolmax Pereira on Saturday, the priest can be heard saying that rather than lighting a lamp, it would be more practical to make phone calls to the underprivileged and enquire about their health and needs and assure them that they are not alone in the hour of crisis.
“The PM has asked to light lamps. I say to all my parishioners, don’t do these unnecessary things. Recently, we were witness to the ‘taali bajao and thali bajao’ spectacle. I am telling the parishioners, no one should step out of their homes with lamps and torches. Stay within the house,”
The Prime Minister has urged people to light a lamp, a candle or a torch outside their homes today at 9 pm for nine minutes to thank medical practitioners for the efforts they are making to contain COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Congress said lighting lamps alone will not help win the war against coronavirus and demanded answers from the government on the safety of health workers in the absence of adequate protective gear.
He, however, appreciated the PM’s idea saying that his statement should not be viewed as something against the Prime Minister or the Indian government.
