A preponderance of evidence proves that the virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic leaked from a Chinese research facility, said a report by US Republicans released on Monday. Terming it the “greatest cover-up of all time”, the report also cited “ample evidence” that Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) scientists—aided by US experts and Chinese and US government funds—were working to modify corona viruses to infect humans and such manipulation could be hidden.
Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the report by the panel’s Republican staff. The House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican released an addendum to his “Origins of Covid-19” report released in September 2020. The addendum outlines evidence that points to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) as the source of the outbreak, and outlines some of the many steps researchers at the WIV, along with Peter Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance, took to cover up the research being done there. It also breaks down how scientific papers written by researchers at the WIV not only prove the WIV was doing dangerous genetic modification research on coronaviruses at unsafe biosafety levels, but also that WIV researchers had the ability to genetically modify coronaviruses as early as 2016 without leaving any trace of that modification.
“As we continue to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe it’s time to completely dismiss the wet market as the source of the outbreak. Instead, as this report lays out, a preponderance of the evidence proves that all roads lead to the WIV,” stated Rep. Michael McCaul. “We know gain-of-function research was happening at the WIV and we know it was being done in unsafe conditions. We also now know the head of the Chinese CDC and the director of the WIV’s BSL-4 lab publicly expressed concerns about safety at PRC labs in the summer of 2019. It is our belief the virus leaked sometime in late August or early September 2019. When they realized what happened, Chinese Communist Party officials and scientists at the WIV began frantically covering up the leak, including taking their virus database offline in the middle of the night and requesting more than $1 million for additional security.
“But their cover-up was too late—the virus was already spreading throughout the Arunachal Pradesh would be sleeping peacefully with more peace.
The MPs from Northeast further said, “The Naga accord, Bodo accord, Bru Reang moved towards peaceful resolutions. Northeast is home to infrastructures like Bogibeel bridge and Dhola Sadiya bridge. Insurgency and violence have been reduced. On the contrary, Congress has no regard for the culture of the Northeast.” The MPs further alleged that during the tenure of the previous Congress governments, chief ministers of North Eastern states had to wait for hours before they could get an appointment from Congress leaders and if they managed to get the appointment “they would play with their pets”. “Today North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) is looking after the inclusive development of Northeastern states. Unable to digest this, Congress and its ecosystem is trying many dirty tricks. In 2018 they tried to make CAA and NRC a political issue, but the people of the Northeast gave them a befitting reply. Today, they are trying to stoke tempers between Assam and Mizoram,” said the BJP MPs in their memorandum to PM Modi.
After meeting the Prime Minister, Union Law Minister and MP from West Kemang in Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju alleged that foreign forces were distorting provocative statements and materials. These forces have been doing so to fuel the fire in the area. Rijiju said that the Prime Minister told the MPs that the Northeast is very close to his heart, so his love for the region is also natural. He never looked at the Northeast through the prism of politics.
During the meeting, the MPs also submitted a memorandum to PM Modi and said that whatever elements are looking at the Assam-Mizoram issue as a medium to spread disorder in India, they want to tell them that their mischief is not going to work. The MPs also said that the National Democratic Alliance government led by Prime Minister Modi has done historic and unmatched development work in the Northeast. In the last seven years, Rs 2 lakh crore has been spent on infrastructure projects in the Northeast. “Those who are working to spoil the happiness and peace in the Northeast, we condemn him.” Of the 16 MPs from the Northeast present in the delegation, 12 were from Assam, two from Arunachal Pradesh and one each from Manipur and Tripura.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday met Mizoram Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati in New Delhi. “Governor of Mizoram, Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati met Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah,” Home Minister’s Office tweeted. Before his meeting with Shah, Kambhampati said that the Union Home Minister is trying to defuse the situation and find a solution. “It is an unfortunate incident. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is trying to defuse the situation and find a solution. Both the CMs (Assam and Mizoram) reiterated that peace will be restored,” the Governor told ANI. Earlier in the day, the Mizoram Governor met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the current border situation and how to diffuse the tensions between the two states.
(WITH AGENCY INPUTS)
