NEW DELHI :
MOUTH and nose covered with a traditional ‘gamcha’, hands folded in namaste - this is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new social media profile picture looks like. The photo, aimed at spreading awareness over curbing COVID-19 spread, is from Modi’s address to the nation on Tuesday wherein he announced lockdown extension till May 3. Modi changed the display picture merely minutes after his address to the nation. This is aimed at increasing awareness on covering faces with homemade solutions to be safe in this time of COVID-19.
The Prime Minister used the same photo as his display in both Facebook and Twitter. Previously, in an interaction with the Chief Ministers of various States on Saturday, he was seen wearing a homemade mask as a precautionary measure against Coronavirus. Minutes later, several senior BJP leaders, including party President J P Nadda put pictures of wearing face covers on their Twitter profiles. Nadda changed his Twitter profile picture and posted the message “Wear face cover stay safe”. Union Minister Giriraj Singh also followed suit and changed his profile picture.
During his address, Modi announced the extension of the lockdown, which was slated to end today, and urged people to follow the norms. Modi also lauded people for following lockdown guidelines and celebrating festivals at their respective homes with “simplicity” and said that it is “motivational and praiseworthy”. He also underlined that India’s fight against COVID-19 is moving ahead “very strongly” and the country has been able to avert considerable damage due to the sacrifices of the countrymen.