Maha: Activist heckled for ignoring 'switch off lights' appeal

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Maha: Activist heckled for ignoring 'switch off lights' appeal
Pune, Apr 6 () A social activist here inMaharashtra has alleged that he and his family were heckledand termed as "anti-national" by a neighbour after they didnot switch off lights at 9 pm on Sunday in response to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi's appeal.

Siddharth Prabhune took to Twitter to express hisgrievance and said his family did not switch off lights as hewas unwell.

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His wife Trupti Prabhune said they did not lodge apolice complaint in the matter as the security personnel arealready busy enforcing the lockdown.

The activist said he along with his family were on theterrace of their house by 8.45 pm on Sunday.

"By 9 pm, people started switching off the lights andlit diyas and candles. Lights in our house as well as on theterrace were on because I was not well," he tweeted.

He further stated that a builder, who lives in frontof their building, started shouting to switch off the lights.

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"However, we remained silent. He then came down andgathered people and started shouting at us," Prabhune alleged.

In his Twitter post, the activist further alleged thatthe builder used intimidating language, labelled his family as"anti-national, "vile", and threatened to send them to jailfor three months.

The activist said the appeal made by Prime MinisterModi was voluntary, and such "intimidation" is wrong.

When contacted, the activist's wife said the behaviourof the person was not appropriate, but they do not want toescalate the matter.

"He should have not used that sort of language," shesaid, adding that they chose not to approach police who arealready overburdened due to the current lockdown situation.

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Prime Minister Modi last week appealed to people todefeat coronavirus by switching off lights in their premisesfor nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday amid the nationwidelockdown.

People across the country enthusiastically respondedto his appeal by lighting candles and diyas, and flashinglights of their mobile phones by standing in balconies and infront of their houses. SPKGK GK
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