Donald Trump had said “there may be retaliation” if India does not agree to export hydroxychloroquine, a key anti-malarial drug believed by many to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus.
Mumbai| Congress leader and former president of Indian National Congress (INC) Rahul Gandhi took on Twitter and expressed his dismay over the comments made by the US President Donald Trump on the export of Hydroxychloroquine by India amid coronavirus crisis.
Donald Trump had said “there may be retaliation” if India does not agree to export hydroxychloroquine, a key anti-malarial drug believed by many to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus.
His remarks come nearly two weeks after the government banned the export of the drug as experts test its efficacy in helping treat COVID-19 patients.
“I don’t like that decision, I didn’t hear that that was his decision. I know that he stopped it for other countries. I spoke to him yesterday, we had a very good talk and we’ll see whether or not that’s his… For many years, they’ve been taken advantage of the United States on trade. So I would be surprised if that were his decision. He’d have to tell me that. I spoke to him Sunday morning, called him, and I said, we’d appreciate you allowing our supply to come out. If he doesn’t allow it to come out. That would be OK. But of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn’t there be,” the US President had said in a briefing.
After Trump’s comments, India lifted the ban on the export of 24 pharmaceuticals ingredients and medicines. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said given the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation.
Taking a jibe on Trump’s comments, Rahul Gandhi said: “Friendship isn’t about retaliation.”
In his tweet posted on Tuesday Morning, Rahul wrote, “Friendship isn’t about retaliation. India must help all nations in their hour of need but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians in ample quantities first.”
Friendship isn’t about retaliation. India must help all nations in their hour of need but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians in ample quantities first.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 7, 2020
Many other Indian politicians didn’t take Trump’s comment too well. Shashi Tharoor, the Congress parliamentarian from Kerala, said that the supply of hydroxychloroquine is India’s as long as it doesn’t sell it to anyone.
In a tweet on Sunday Morning, Tharoor wrote quoting the video from Trump’s briefing, “Never in my decades of experience in world affairs have I heard a Head of State or Govt openly threatening another like this. What makes Indian hydroxychloroquine “our supply”, Mr President? It only becomes your supply when India decides to sell it to you.”
Never in my decades of experience in world affairs have I heard a Head of State or Govt openly threatening another like this. What makes Indian hydroxychloroquine "our supply", Mr President? It only becomes your supply when India decides to sell it to you. @USAndIndia https://t.co/zvSPEysTNf
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 7, 2020
After the remarks made by US President Trump, India decided to lift the ban on hydroxychloroquine to supply to the countries who are “Badly-affected” by the coronavirus.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities. We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic. We would, therefore, discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter.”
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