New Delhi: US President Donald Trump takes a U-turn after threatening India of “retaliation” . Trump praise New Delhi allowed export of Hydroxychloroquine drug to badly affected nations from COVID-19.
In a telephonic interview with US-based Fox News, the US President praised PM Narendra Modi stating ‘he was great, he was really good’ for lifting the ban on the export of the crucial drug to US.
In the interview with Fox News, Trump said, “I bought millions of doses. More than 29 million. I spoke to PM Modi, a lot of it comes out of India. I asked him if he would release it? He was Great. He was really good. You know they put a stop because they wanted it for India. But there is a lot of good things coming from that.“
“Lot of people looking at it and saying, you know I don’t hear bad stories, I hear good stories. And I don’t hear anything where it is causing death. So it is not something like… You know we are doing vaccines. Johnson and Johnson, they need to test that. It seems malaria-affected countries are unaffected where it is common (sic).” Trump added.
India lifts ban on export of Hydroxychloroquine
On Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “In view of the humanitarian aspects of COVID19 pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol & Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities”.
India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade notified lifting of restrictions on 14 drugs including Hydroxychloroquine on Monday.
Donald Trump hints at retaliation if India
US President Donald Trump on Monday hinted at a possible retaliation if India does not lift its hold on the export of Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug used in the treatment of coronavirus patients.
Trump speaking from the White House during the Coronavirus taskforce briefing said that India does very well with the US and he sees no reason why India would not lift the hold on the US order of the medicine.
He said, “‘didn’t hear that that was his (Modi) decision. I know that he stopped it for other countries I spoke to him yesterday, very very good talk, and we’ll see whether or not that stays I wouldn’t be surprised if he would you know because India’s does very well with the United States,”
