PM address: Twitter abuzz with speculation on Emergency, Dawood, Masood and jokes too
New Delhi: While the nation waited for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, anxiously counting the minutes before his "important message", speculation spiralled -- would it be about Emergency, bringing back Dawood Ibrahim or killing Masood Azhar?
As the designated hour of 12 noon came and went, jokes on Twitter gathered strength. With memories of that fateful November 2016 evening, when Modi announced the demonetisation of high value currency notes, still fresh, jokes about people running to the ATM and counting cash started doing the rounds.
"I would be addressing the nation at around 11:45 AM - 12.00 noon with an important message. Do watch the address on television, radio or social media," the prime minister tweeted on Wednesday morning, sending Twitteratti into a tizzy.
The address finally started at 12.25 pm, and social media users bombarded Twitter with their theories while they waited.
Among them was former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah who tweeted, "He's declaring the results of the Lok Sabha elections. #JustSaying."
"Dawood arrested brought back? Hafiz Saeed or Masood Azhar eliminated?#PMtoaddressnation," added social media user, Sagar Rai.
Pictures of former prime minister Indira Gandhi addressing the country to announce the imposition of Emergency were also circulating on the microblogging site.
"Have added my CA on the speed dial list #PM to address nation," said Niharika Rana.
"#PMModi ji is going to address the nation today. I am already at the ATM," said a user Amir Pathan.
"Another #Demonetisation? Did they catch Masood Azhar or Dawood? Are we taking over Pakistan? OMG I am #anxious now," Twitter user Gaurish Salunke said.
One Twitter use posted a picture of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan getting his blood pressure checked.
"#PMModi's announcement to address the nation just tested Imran Khan's BP for a while," read the caption.
"Congress has already sent a delegation to Election Commission to complain model code violation, Rahul preparing for Press Conference #PM to address the nation," another user tweeted.
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet Committee on Security met at the prime minister's residence, setting off further speculation.
The prime minister on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers.
"In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today," he said in an unprecedented broadcast to the nation on television, radio and social media.
Modi will address the nation with an important message any time now.
— Abhishek dutta (@uthale_re_baba) March 27, 2019
I am already queuing up outside the SBI ATM.#Modiji #ModiAnnouncement #Elections2019
Modi ji: "I will be addressing the nation with an important message."
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) March 27, 2019
You (dumbass): *waiting for the announcement*
Me (1000 times smarter): *already walking towards the nearest ATM*
#PMAddressToNation
— avanish (@av_nisHit) March 27, 2019
Waiting for Modi ji to address: pic.twitter.com/WYGcp1BdMj
Phewwww! Its a space thingy. Your money's safe, folks, go back to work ?
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) March 27, 2019
Akshay Kumar is already in the studio, shooting Mission Shakti movie with Rakesh Roshan's Koi Mil Gaya computer.
— Ivan Mehta (@IndianIdle) March 27, 2019
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India-bound LPG tanker clears Hormuz
New Delhi (PTI): A tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for India has sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz and is now headed towards the country, an official statement said on Sunday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, loaded with 46,313 tonnes of LPG and staffed by 20 crew, including 18 Indians, cleared the key shipping chokepoint on May 2 and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam on May 13, it said.
The cargo -- enough to meet half a days requirement of the country -- will partly tide over supply constraints being faced since the start of the West Asia conflict more than two months back.
Ship-tracking data showed its position in Oman Gulf on Sunday evening.
The very large gas carrier has previously made runs between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports, has been chartered by state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Sarv Shakti is the first India-linked tanker to cross the war zone since a weeks-old US blockade of ships tied to Iran began, pushing transits through Hormuz back down to almost zero.
There are as many as 14 Indian flagged or India-owned vessels still stranded on the west side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement said no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure crew welfare and uninterrupted operations.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) control room has handled 8,373 calls and more than 17,965 emails since activation, including 38 calls and 127 emails in the last 24 hours.
India has also facilitated the repatriation of more than 2,953 seafarers so far, including 31 in the past day from across the Gulf region.
Port operations across the country remain normal with no congestion reported, the statement added.
