‘Vaccine Maitri’ raised India’s standing, says S Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March17

In a rare gesture, the opposition appreciated government’s “Vaccine Maitri” initiative of supplying Covid vaccines to other countries, which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said highlighted India’s selfless outlook and the quality of its products.

“Even in the midst of a global crisis, the PM’s initiative of such deep friendship raised India’s standing and it also emerged as a source of strength for vulnerable nations,” Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha today.

Steering clear of numbers, Jaishankar traced the supply of vaccine to over 70 countries as a natural extension of India’s stature as the pharmacy of the world and its resolve to help other countries right from the time the pandemic began sweeping the world.

Jaishankar, who invoked the PM several times in his speech, did not acknowledge the suggestion by Jairam Ramesh, Anand Sharma (both Congress) and Binoy Vishwam to also acknowledge the contribution of past polices that made India the pharmacy of the world.

“Success has many fathers. I am delighted to see so many fathers claiming success. They really want to praise Vaccine Maitri, but are going about in roundabout way…it is a great affirmation of the made-in-India programme which India pursued so strongly,” he said.

Jaishankar, however, overlooked Jairam Ramesh’s suggestion to acknowledge the continuity in the policies of the past decades that “led to a situation we take legitimate pride in”.

Ramesh pointed out India’s unique Patents Act of 1970, the dilution of equity stake of MNCs due to FERA and huge public investments in science and technology that led to the emergence of Indian companies such as Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute.