New Delhi: US President Donald Trump had openly challenged India to supply hydroxychloroquine, a key anti-malaria drug believed to be effective in treatment of coronavirus.
Trump had said on Monday, “I would be surprised if he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) would, you know, because India does very well with the United States.”
“I spoke to him (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) 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.
In response to Trump, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor hit out at the American President.
“Never in my decades of experience in world affairs have I heard a Head of State or Government 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,” Tharoor tweeted.
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
India has decided to license licensed the export of paracetamol and anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in appropriate quantities to some countries, that have been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
