Bengaluru: It will be a historic moment this Sunday (March 15) evening, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead India in a videoconferencing in which South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member nations will be participating. 

The videoconferencing comes in the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) asking people not to gather in huge numbers as it may lead to spreading of the deadly Coronavirus. 

The videoconferencing will also see the member nations strategizing ways to mitigate the consequences of the virus, as also contain its spread. 

It might be recalled that it was Modi who had endeavoured to moot such an idea. 

It was welcomed by all members of the SAARC nations comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. 

The videoconferencing will take place at 5 pm. 

The PM also took to Twitter to express his feelings on the issue. He had tweeted thus: 

Timely action for a healthier planet. 

Tomorrow at 5 PM, leaders of SAARC nations will discuss, via conferencing, a roadmap to fight the challenge of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. 

I am confident that our coming together will lead to effective outcomes and benefit our citizens.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also said: "Coming together for the common good! 15 March, 1700 IST. PM Narendra Modi will lead India at the video conference of all SAARC member countries, to chalk out a common strategy to fight COVID-19 in the region."

It is pertinent to note that Modi had refused to attend the 2016 SAARC summit which was to be held in Islamabad, following the Uri terror attack perpetrated by Pakistani terrorists. After Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan also withdrew from the meet, the summit was called off.

The Coronavirus has affected more than a lakh people and more than 5000 have been killed.