Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, who is also the president of Makkal Needhi Mayam, has addressed an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to also take into consideration the plight of the nation's underprivileged people in this time of global pandemic.

Kamal noted that no other world leader probably has as much following as Modi does. He added that citizens have heeded his call and clapped and cheered to appreciate the work of health workers. Expressing fear that, the same mistake of demonetisation might get repeated in the current situation, leaving the poor people worst affected, Kamal urged the Centre to focus on the struggles of the poor during the lockdown. "I am sure you don't want to be a balcony government only for the balcony people by completely ignoring the poor...," his letter reads.

In the letter, the actor also highlighted that he was a 'dismayed citizen' and made several strong statements — 'This time your vision failed', 'I dare anyone to call me an anti-national this time', and 'We are angry but we are still on your side'.
 

Several celebrities and people across India lit diyas and candles at 9 pm for 9 minutes on Sunday following PM Modi's call to send across a message of solidarity in the fight against coronavirus.