New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has told the Congress party that giving away “unsolicited” oxygen cylinders to the Philippine embassy or anyone else for “cheap publicity” is simply appalling.
“MEA checked with the Philippines Embassy. This was an unsolicited supply as they had no Covid cases. Clearly for cheap publicity by you know who. Giving away cylinders like this when there are people in desperate need of oxygen is simply appalling," he tweeted in response to a missive from Congress MPJairam Ramesh who had taken credit for the Youth Congress to have delivered Oxygen to thePhilippines embassy.
"Jairamji, MEA never sleeps; our people know across the world. MEA also never fakes; we know who does,"
the Minister wrote.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has announced that Dr Jaishankar will be visiting London from May 3 to 6 to participate in the G-7 Foreign Ministers Meeting."India has been invited as a guest country," a source said.
In a statement, MEA said during his stay in London besides attending the G-7 meet, Dr Jaishankar will hold a Virtual Summit with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson on May 4, Tuesday.
"India and the UK enjoy a Strategic Partnership since 2004. It has been marked by regular high level exchanges and growing convergences in diverse areas. The Summit will be an important opportunity to elevate our multi-faceted strategic ties and enhance cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual interest," the statement said.
Both the leaders will also discuss Covid19 cooperation and the global efforts to fight the pandemic.
A comprehensive Roadmap 2030 will be launched during the Summit, which will pave the way for further expanding and deepening India-UK cooperation on matters of trade, defence and security, climate action and healthcare.
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Oxygen generators from France to help four Delhi hospitals with oxygen
New Delhi: International assistance for India to fight the corona virus menace and to deal with thechallenge of the second wave of the pandemic continue to pour in.
Large shipments of medical equipment and oxygen generators will bring much needed relief in many key hospitals, particularly in at least four hospitals in Delhi, an official source said here.
"A testament to India-France strategic partnership and friendship. 28 tonnes of medical equipment including 8 hospital-level oxygen generators and other medical supplies arrive from France. Deeply appreciate the support from France. Will bolster our oxygen capacities," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
Sources said the large consignment of medical equipment and supplies from France, which arrived on May 2, Sunday, includes eight hospital-level oxygen generators.
The consignment has been handed over by the Government of France to the Government of India through the Indian Red Cross Society.
These generators can make Indian hospitals 'autonomous' in oxygen supply for at least 10 years. The system willbe able to provide uninterrupted oxygen supply for a 250-bed hospital. "Moreover, there is durable installation thatcan produce medical oxygen from ambient air yearlong".
To ensure that the hospital-level oxygen generators are utilized at the earliest, the Government of India has already identified the hospitals where the generators will be installed, as per medical requirement and priority.
"This will bring much needed relief in many key hospitals, particularly in at least four hospitals in Delhi".
Medical supply from France received on Sunday, May 2 includes 8 oxygen generators, 28 ventilators, 200 electric syringe pumps, 28 AFNOR/BS Flexible tubes, 500 anti-bacterial filters, 500 machine filters and 500 related patient circuits.
On April 27, French President Emmanuel Macron had conveyed the message of solidarity in Hindi via a social media post.
The government on Saturday also received materials from Germany.
These include 120 ventilators (model PrismaVent 50).
Sources said Germany will provide one mobile oxygen production and filling plant next week and 13 German Technical Personnel have come to India for installation and training.
Consignment of Remdesivir and monoclonal is to come. The German authorities would organize a webinar on virus sequencing with Indian technical team.
In addition, procurement from private German companies is being made – for example, 24 oxygen transport tanks were procured from German company Linde by Tata, Oil India Corporation Limited is procuring four oxygen tanks from German company Albatross.
At the national level, a day after India’s daily Covid cases passed the four lakh mark for the first time, as many as 3,689 deaths were registered — the highest toll reported in a day.As many as 3.92 lakh fresh cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Odisha government on Sunday announced a 14-day lockdown in the state, starting from May 5 to May 19.
In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings with experts and officials in the morning hourson the Covid crisis.
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New Delhi: Did the western media fake it all or hyped certain things out of context?
"I look forward to reviewing operations (Covishield production) upon my return in a few days," CEO and owner of Serum Institute of India tweeted.
He wrote in the micro blogging site that he had "an excellent meeting with all our partners and stakeholders in the United Kingdom".
He further wrote, "...meanwhile, pleased to state that COVISHIELD’s production is in full swing in Pune".
The missive came hours after,London-based 'The Times' claimed and quoted Poonawala stating that ‘Threats’ is an "understatement”. The spin and style adopted in reporting gave an impression that "phone calls" and other kinds of pressure was building up and that the "biggest manufacturer of vaccines in the world" had left India for personal security.
An English daily from eastern India even used the word "escaped" to suggest that Poonawala would prefer to stay away from India for sometime.
"India’s vaccines supremo hints that he may start producing in Britain and tells Martin Fletcher about threatening calls from the rich and powerful," The Times report had claimed.
It also said, Poonawalla has maintained that: “The level of expectation and aggression is really unprecedented. It’s overwhelming. Everyone feels they should get the vaccine. They can’t understand why anyone else should get it before them.”
The report also said: "The phone calls are the worst thing, says Adar Poonawalla, the biggest manufacturer of vaccines in the world. They are incessant and very menacing, adds the man whose Serum Institute is producing 90 per cent of India’s Covid-19 vaccines at a time when the pandemic is rampaging through the second most populous country on Earth, causing fear, panic and death on an appalling scale".
"The calls come from some of the most powerful men in India. They come from the chief ministers of Indian states, heads of business conglomerates and others demanding instant supplies of Covishield, as the AstraZeneca vaccine is known in India".
Even on social media, many suggested whether he had left India because of this threat perception. One Atul Shukla wrote, "No need to worry we are with you".
Deepak Chaudhary identifying himself as 'Proud Hindu' writes: "You are the jewel of India & have made the whole country proud. There are always a few rotten souls but don't bother about them".
Some even urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to ensure adequate security for Poonawala.
The 40-year-old business tycoon was recently given Y-level security cover by the central government.
Armed commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are to be with him every time he travels to any part of the country.
"I'm staying here (London) for an extended time because I don't want to go back to that situation. Everything falls on my shoulders but I can't do it alone...I don't want to be in a situation where you are just trying to do your job, and just because you can't supply the needs of X, Y or Z you really don't want to guess what they are going to do," Mr Poonawalla was quoted as telling 'The Times'.
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