Asaduddin Owaisi issues first reply as India permits Hydroxychloroquine export amid Covid

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened a possible retaliation if India does not lift its hold on the export of Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria prophylactic recommended for use by persons at high-risk for Coronavirus. Reacing to this, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi shared a clip of PM Modi's visit to Houston last year where he attended 'Howdy Modi' event and asked "Why is India's friend in the White House" talking of retaliation? He added that will the Prime Minister "tolerate this insult to Bharat?"

India on Tuesday temporarily licensed the export of Paracetamol and anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in appropriate quantities to some neighbouring countries which have been particularly badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and are dependent on India for it. Reacting to this, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 'welcomed' the move but said that lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians first. This is after the MEA in its statement on the export nod had said: "Our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicines for the requirement of our own people."

'Friendship isn't about retaliation'

Taking to Twitter the Congress leader wrote, "India must help all nations in their hour of need but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians in ample quantities first." In his tweet, Rahul Gandhi also wrote "Friendship isn't about retaliation" in an obvious reference to US President Donald Trump statement on Monday where he 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.

Several countries have reached out to India

The development comes after several countries including the USA have reached to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the supply of the medicine. India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade on March 25 banned the export of Hydroxychloroquine but said that certain shipments on humanitarian grounds may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

READ | Trump warns India of retaliation if Hydroxychloroquine export stops, hails brief relief

READ | Rahul Gandhi issues first statement as India approves Hydroxychloroquine export amid Covid

Members of the SAARC bloc and Indonesia and the UAE have requested India to lift the export ban on hydroxychloroquine, as they stare at a shortage of the drug primarily used for rheumatoid arthritis and long-term autoimmune disease lupus. According to reports, several other European countries have also requested India for the supply of hydroxychloroquine.

READ | India to allow Hydroxychloroquine & Paracetamol export to neighbours in need amid Covid

India allows Hydroxychloroquine exports, warns against politicisation

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement on Tuesday said that India will licence paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to all neighbouring countries who are dependent on India's capabilities. The statement added that India will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic.

Here is the full statement by the MEA:

"We have seen some attempts by sections of the media to create unnecessary controversy over the issue of COVID19 related drugs and pharmaceuticals. Like any responsible government, our first obligation is to ensure that there are adequate stocks of medicines for the requirement of our own people. In order to ensure this, some temporary steps were taken to restrict exports of a number of pharmaceutical products. In the meanwhile, a comprehensive assessment was made of possible requirements under different scenarios. After having confirmed the availability of medicines for all possible contingencies currently envisaged, these restrictions have been largely lifted. The DGFT has notified lifting restrictions on 14 drugs yesterday. With regard to paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), they will be kept in a licensed category and their demand position would be continuously monitored. However, the stock position could allow our companies to meet the export commitments that they had contracted. 

Given the enormity of the COVID19 pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation. This approach also guided our evacuation of nationals of other countries. 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."

READ | Yechury first to attack India's Hydroxychloroquine export nod, cites 'Namaste Trump'

(With agency inputs)