A day after Singapore Health Ministry objected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s claim of a Singapore variant of Covid-19 strain, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said ‘Delhi CM does not speak for India.’
The Union Minister, while condeming Kejriwal’s comments said, “Singapore and India have been solid partners in the fight against Covid-19. However, irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage long-standing partnerships”
Singapore and India have been solid partners in the fight against Covid-19.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 19, 2021
Appreciate Singapore's role as a logistics hub and oxygen supplier. Their gesture of deploying military aircraft to help us speaks of our exceptional relationship. @VivianBala https://t.co/x7jcmoyQ5a
Asserting that the Delhi Chief Minister had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policy, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Singapore Government called in our High Commissioner today to convey strong objection to Delhi CM’s tweet on “Singapore variant”.
On May 18 Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that a “new Covid strain found in Singapore is dangerous for children. It could come to India in the form of a third wave.”
“My appeal to the Central government: 1. Cancel all air services with Singapore with immediate effect 2. Work on vaccine alternatives for children on a priority basis,” Kejriwal further added.
In its reaction, the Singapore health ministry said there was is no truth in the claim.