Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request to the Centre to immediately suspend flights from Singapore because of an alleged new strain in that country that is suspected to affect children and could lead to a third wave of Covid infections in India, has led to a full-blown war of words, with the BJP attacking Kejriwal and Singapore’s Ministry of Health also saying there is no truth about a “Singapore variant”.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday reprimanded Kejriwal over his claims of a “new Singapore Covid-19 variant” alarm and said the “Delhi CM does not speak for India”.
However, addressing a digital press conference on Wednesday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia strongly slammed the BJP-led Central government for its inadequate and substandard Covid-19 crisis management. He also pointed out how the Central government is interested in playing murky politics rather than timely and swiftly taking control of the crisis.
Sisodia said, “CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday pointed out that the third wave of Covid-19 might unravel on young children and alerted the Central government against this. However, instead of preparing or taking any action against this important news, the Central government has shown condemnable behaviour by playing dirty politics of blame and lies. CM Arvind Kejriwal rightly notified two facts to the public, first on the development of new strain in Singapore and second on how this strain might affect children and how we need to be careful. The Central government, instead of showing any concern towards the danger our children might be in, gave more attention to building its diplomatic image in Singapore.”
He said, “The unabated ridicule by BJP of CM Arvind Kejriwal only indicates that BJP and Central government are more worried about Singapore and how Singapore views us, instead of worrying about how this new strain in Singapore may adversely affect our children, if it is brought to India. BJP is more worried about how Singapore will respond to our concern rather than our own children in India. They will not bring vaccines for children, but worry about Singapore.”
Warning against the strain that has recently been discovered in Singapore, Sisodia said, “Today, our doctors and scientists are warning the nation against the new strain that has emerged in Singapore. Even the Supreme Court has mentioned that the next wave will adversely impact children. But our Central government is least concerned about the chances of a third wave or how our children will have to face the brunt of it.”
He said, “The Central Government needs to prioritise our children first and foremost, instead of playing politics and fixing its image abroad. Delhi Government has always been committed and will continue to commit itself for the safety of our children. We want to protect and save our children from this deadly crisis. Our nation is worried for our children instead of how Singapore views us. The Central government has just taken keen interest in glorifying its image abroad and helping other countries to accumulate vaccines, but the Delhi government will ensure that every step is taken to stop this new strain from affecting our children and keeping our children, our citizens completely safe.”
However, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday and said: “Irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage long-standing partnerships. So, let me clarify—Delhi CM does not speak for India.”
The Singapore government has also strongly objected to Kejriwal’s tweet. “Singapore Government called in our High Commissioner today to convey strong objection to Delhi CM’s tweet on ‘Singapore variant’. High Commissioner clarified that Delhi CM had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policy,” tweeted Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday said there is no truth in the references in reports in a section of Indian media about the presence of a new variant of coronavirus in the country, adding that there is no “Singapore variant”.
WITH AGENCY INPUTS FROM SINGAPORE