'Delhi CM Doesn't Speak For India': Centre Responds As Singapore Objects To Kejriwal's Covid Strain Remarks
After Delhi Chief Minister's recent tweet, Singapore had summoned the Indian envoy and conveyed "strong objection" over a Covid strain.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's tweet referring B.1.617.2 strain of Covivd-19 as "Singapore variant" has sparked a heated controversy. The Singapore government on Wednesday refuted claims and expressed strong condemnation towards Delhi CM saying that there was no truth in Kejriwal’s assertion. Following Singapore’s strong response to Delhi CM’s claims, the Government of India clarified that "Delhi Chief Minister does not speak for India.”
Foreign Minster S. Jaishankar in tweet said, "Singapore and India have been solid partners in the fight against Covid-19. 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. However, irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage long-standing partnerships. So, let me clarify - Delhi CM does not speak for India."
Minister's statement came after Singapore in its strong rebuttal against Kejriwal said, "There is no truth in the assertion that there is a new COVID strain in Singapore."
Yesterday in a tweet, CM Kejriwal said, “The new form of Corona that came to Singapore is being said to be extremely dangerous for children, in India it may come as a third wave. My appeal to the central government are air services with Singapore to be cancelled with immediate effect and prioritise the options for vaccinating children at the earliest”.
The Delhi Chief Minister’s concerns come as seven of the 38 community cases in Singapore have reportedly tested “preliminarily positive” for the B.1.617 variant, which was first detected in India.
As a rebuttal, the Singapore High Commission put out a statement objecting to CM Kejriwal's tweet.
There is no truth in the assertion that there is a new COVID strain in Singapore. Phylogenetic testing has shown that the B.1.617.2 variant is the prevalent strain in many of the COVID cases, including in children, in recent weeks in Singapore.https://t.co/uz0mNPNxlE https://t.co/Vyj7gyyzvJ
— Singapore in India (@SGinIndia) May 18, 2021
Responding to the CM's tweet Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, explained how Singapore does not share even an air bubble with India and assured that 'precautions are being taken'. He tweeted in Hindi, "Kejriwal, international flights have been closed since March 2020. Singapore does not have an air bubble as well. With just a few Indian flights, we bring back the trapped Indian people. These are our own people. We still have our eye on the situation. All precautions are being taken."
केजरीवाल जी, मार्च 2020 से ही अंतर्राष्ट्रीय उड़ानें बंद हैं। सिंगापुर के साथ एयर बबल भी नहीं है।
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 18, 2021
बस कुछ वन्दे भारत उड़ानों से हम वहाँ फँसे भारतीय लोगों को वापस लाते हैं। ये हमारे अपने ही लोग हैं।
फिर भी स्थिति पर हमारी नज़र है। सभी सावधानियाँ बरती जा रही हैं। pic.twitter.com/wOZMX0Q5CK
However, taking note of the B.1.617 strain of the virus, which is said to be more virulent & seems to be affecting children more than adults., the task force in Singapore has announced that all schools and colleges will shift to home-based learning from May 19 until the end of the term on May 28.
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