President Trump had called Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to supply the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine
India will supply the key drugs, including anti-Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine which are linked to cure coronavirus to those nations that have been badly hit by the pandemic, the government said on Tuesday. India partially lifted ban on hydroxychloroquine hours after US President Donald Trump requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to export the drug to aid America's fight against the deadly Covid-19 disease. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said given the enormity of the COVID19 pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation.
"In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and HCQ 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," Srivastava said.
President Trump had called Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to supply the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine that is being used to treat Covid-19 patients and as prophylactic by the frontline health care workers deployed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Modi government had imposed a ban on export of the drug since the coronavirus outbreak hit India.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned of retaliation and said he would be surprised if India did not allow the export of Hydroxychloroquine tablets to the United States despite a request made to New Delhi over the subject
"I would be surprised if he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) would, you know, because India does very well with the United States," Mr Trump said, asked whether he was worried about "retaliation to the US ban on export of medical goods" from India.
"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 said.
The US as of now has the highest number of the novel coronavirus cases in the world, with over 367,000 cases of infections and over 10,800 deaths. Relatively, India has managed to contain the pandemic with 136 deaths and over 4,700 cases of infections.
On Monday, the Donald Trump administration provided $2.9 million in aid to India to help fight against the novel coronavirus disease.
Also Read: Donald Trump warns India of retaliation over Hydroxychloroquine drug export ban
