Hydroxychloroquine & paracetamol are cheap, generic drugs long off-patent. India has unique strength to make these for the world. It should use it, not squat on it.
While nationalism plus religion and socialism is a killer electoral combination, a tiny party like AAP has shown these aren't beyond the reach of BJP's rivals.
Jairam Ramesh’s brilliant new biography tells the story of V.K. Krishna Menon, who is reviled and demonised in the BJP-RSS worldview as the ‘villain of 1962’.
From stabilisation of the bankruptcy process to the roll-back of the worst of the Budget, there were a few things to be optimistic about the Indian economy.
Vajpayee & Jana Sangh fought Nehru for quarantining fellow Indians in Northeast under Inner Line Permit. Their successors have strengthened & expanded it.
Arvind Kejriwal’s retreat from the fight with Narendra Modi is total. His focus is local issues & Delhi elections and this isn’t defeatism but excellent politics.
Article 370 is gone, now it’s time to fight the good fight — for rights of Kashmiris as fellow Indians and restoration of commerce & political activity in J&K.
The judiciary has become cocooned while being the supreme force for transparency elsewhere. The complainant against CJI Gogoi has laid bare this hypocrisy.
This year, Jawan and The Kerala Story both won National Awards. The irony was impossible to miss. One critiqued the system, the other endorsed its narratives. The dichotomy says more about India’s cultural schizophrenia than any film review ever could.
New CPI series will take 2024 as base year, will provide more accurate measure of inflation, spending on digital services. Expected to enhance representation and reliability, says Saurabh Garg.
The agreement, signed after meeting between Rajnath and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on sidelines of ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, aims to deepen bilateral ties in the critical sector.
This world is being restructured and redrawn by one man, and what’s his power? It’s not his formidable military. It’s trade. With China, it turned on him.
If everything is done and dusted in so far as the ban on HCQ is concerned, why does Trump need to warn and coerce India at all? And all this – Trump’s request and subsequent intimidation – happens within a span of two days. And to think US and India diplomatically are so close!
It is intriguing that US is incapable of commercial manufacture of a cheap, generic out of patent drug in their laboratories for emergency use! There surely more than that meets the eye in Trump’s maneuver and Modi’s instant obeissance!
Congratulations as the Print , Remember IE a
As truth, praying to kolgaon Baba blessing and grace always Team India mission for peace and love one India one world 125 crs plus wish we know US in every field my way or highway wrong or right now we want to have finger in every pie, we have lot on plate so let’s contribute to world crisis as we know US turns, on Good Friday “Oh God forgive them they don’t know what they are doing”:
Pata nahi kya likha hai, ya fir hag k leep diya hai is article k writer ne. Ye bhi koi NEWS hai, jabardasti saale kuch bhi man ghadant kahani bana rhe.
Govt didnt clarify themselves but sent people like you to clarify with baseless reasonings. Kuch bharat nata ki khatir bhi journalism kar liya karo, log dua denge.
Trump made 2 calls for the same thing “to get the drug released”. Was the second call a “thanking” call !!
Journalists can praise the government, but you are seen defending government and blame opposition for the brauhaha.
At least one should seek facts on how much stockpile is available and how much can be exported without serious shortage. The flip-flop(ban and it’s lifting) itself creates enough doubts in everybody’s minds that we may have a crisis.
It is also true that in the times of pandemic declared by WHO, we may have some international obligations to meet. These aspects have to be highlighted.
No one is blaming modi’s government here but seeking some clarity which should be explained without grandstanding that modi can do no wrong.
Trump would never dare threaten Putin, Xi or even MBS. Even with South Korea he went quitely hat in hand asking for supplies.
Yet with India he felt fine threatening us and Modi instead of being strong, quickly capitulated. And Trump is bragging about it. For the people saying the USA will send India help, go back and read your history or even Trump’s recent actions with allies. This all shows what USA really thinks of India and where India sits on the global power scale.
Also monsoon season is coming up. We may need the drugs to combat malaria as well. If India wants to be a true world power and have respect it needs to be tougher with tougher leaders. Indra Gandhi was tough and the Iron Lady. And Modi I’m sorry to say is no Indra Gandhi.
It is very simple question if Covid 19 virus further spread in india in deep and intensify, and further requirement of Medical equipment arise and supposed USA have surplus or part quantity then indian will hope to USA will come for our help. If situation in USA may further deepen and has our PM refused to help for small , low cost tablet whuch plenty available in india, then india will.join hand with any country with such a face. I think.wharever the Our PM.hs done it wass or is or will be right decision. I will salute to my PM
Mr Gupta completely misses the point that Trump ,known for his plainspeakinug most probably made the threat in his phone calls to Modi as well-and not just in the press conference and is he trying to suggest that the two phone calls from Trump over the weekend had no bearing on the government’s decision to revoke the ban immediately afterwards?
.In any case ,it is all a storm in a teacup as there is no real proof that Hydroxychloroquine works for COVID and Trump in his infinite wisdom has decided to recommend the drug as a miracle cure when his own medical advisor and USA’s premier Infectious disease expert,Dr Faucihimself has said it is all nonsense.
In any case efficacy of an antimalarial to combat a novel virus must be doubtful. It’s utility may be equal to a placebo. All kinds of remedies are floating now.
The reason is there are several drugs that requires API imported from other countries especially China! These imports are either barely open right now! How will they produce if they don’t have API!
I told my father not to stockpile too much of his neurotic drugs. He’s already finding it hard to get them. Since the adjacent shops don’t have stock. Probably because their buying capacity has decreased and they are only stocking the common ones or the supply is scarce! Only the bigger stores have the now which is also of old stock!
Think about it. There are many sectors of food production that are running at 50% capacity already. Do you think pharma is doing any better? People are being told not to stockpile while the supply is getting lower day by day. People who listened and did not, are regretting their decision!
The thing is that it is only obvious that India exports anything that we actually produce more than we need in a specific span! However, right now, the labor unions are an issue which we often forget which leads to a shortage which might be small right now, but evidently will be worse and I will not be surprised if in 20days, we come to a point where supply/demand ratio is 1.
The article presumes that Trump made his threat only in the press conference (which took place after India had already decided to lift the ban). It could bery well be the case Trump made a similiar threat in his phone call with Modi: and it’s very possible that Modi succumbed to such a threat. Trump’s ‘request’ was probably also a ‘threat’. Should this be the case, then the bru ha ha is indeed not without basis….
We, the readers, are fed by the media, and our reactions are based on such feed. Occasionally, opposition parties may also feast on some feed, hoping it would provide them with enough masala to target the government. Now that you’re saving India didn’t cave in, let’s bury the matter and you may please move on with your immediate journalistic duties.
India has a huge population. God forbid, if COVID-19 spreads far and deep, then do we have enough supplies for local requirements? That is question number 1. The second question is, was the first question answered by medical professionals? (or by Modi ji himself?) If the answer to both these questions is yes, then India must export to help the world and also make some money for itself.
Call it my prejudiced mind or whatever, but I am sure the answer to the first question is NO, because answer to the second question is as per the doubt mentioned in its parentheses.
How can you say plainly that we do not have enough supplies for local requirements. Also, America’s budgets on R&D is 20 times more than India, certainly their chance of finding a vaccine first is much more than India.
In that case, India will also require to get vaccines or technology from them.
Fair point. But handing over your STOCKPILE, and sharing your KNOWHOW are two different things. I have not said that if Biocon or some other Indian pharma company has developed the “knowhow”, we shouldn’t share it with the Americans or others. I am advocating miserliness about our “stockpile”.
Similarly, if America develops the knowhow, it will definitely share it with the rest of the world, but it will surely ask its pharma companies to first support the local requirement.
I wish Big Pharma firms quickly come out with a drug for COVID-19 and allow India firms to manufacture it at mass scale. This will be a a kind of Y2K moment for Indian Pharma.
Great write-up! With proper facts, and in chronology! And it clears all doubts about Trump’s so-called retaliation against India. The other media outlets should learn from this how to do reporting. Shekhar Gupta is definitely one of the best Indian reporters we have.
I totally agree with Shekarji. His pointing out chronology with crisp details is absolute to the point. All other media was just looking at sensationalism the issue. Indian commies anti americanism will never go away. Even 1962 war with China, Indian Chinese supported only China.
Chronology tho teek he… But what about the outcome of much celebrated ‘ Namaste Trump’ mega show ? Was it mere campaign for Trump’s presidential run? Why PM Modi failed to win the trust of Trump even after repeated calls? Why Trump took the extreme step using language of ” retaliation” against India even after talking to a friend indeed?
If everything is done and dusted in so far as the ban on HCQ is concerned, why does Trump need to warn and coerce India at all? And all this – Trump’s request and subsequent intimidation – happens within a span of two days. And to think US and India diplomatically are so close!
It is intriguing that US is incapable of commercial manufacture of a cheap, generic out of patent drug in their laboratories for emergency use! There surely more than that meets the eye in Trump’s maneuver and Modi’s instant obeissance!
Congratulations as the Print , Remember IE a
As truth, praying to kolgaon Baba blessing and grace always Team India mission for peace and love one India one world 125 crs plus wish we know US in every field my way or highway wrong or right now we want to have finger in every pie, we have lot on plate so let’s contribute to world crisis as we know US turns, on Good Friday “Oh God forgive them they don’t know what they are doing”:
Pata nahi kya likha hai, ya fir hag k leep diya hai is article k writer ne. Ye bhi koi NEWS hai, jabardasti saale kuch bhi man ghadant kahani bana rhe.
No time so called hard bargainer meekly surrendered to arm twist tactics of big brother. Somersaults order of the day.
Govt didnt clarify themselves but sent people like you to clarify with baseless reasonings. Kuch bharat nata ki khatir bhi journalism kar liya karo, log dua denge.
Trump made 2 calls for the same thing “to get the drug released”. Was the second call a “thanking” call !!
Journalists can praise the government, but you are seen defending government and blame opposition for the brauhaha.
At least one should seek facts on how much stockpile is available and how much can be exported without serious shortage. The flip-flop(ban and it’s lifting) itself creates enough doubts in everybody’s minds that we may have a crisis.
It is also true that in the times of pandemic declared by WHO, we may have some international obligations to meet. These aspects have to be highlighted.
No one is blaming modi’s government here but seeking some clarity which should be explained without grandstanding that modi can do no wrong.
Trump would never dare threaten Putin, Xi or even MBS. Even with South Korea he went quitely hat in hand asking for supplies.
Yet with India he felt fine threatening us and Modi instead of being strong, quickly capitulated. And Trump is bragging about it. For the people saying the USA will send India help, go back and read your history or even Trump’s recent actions with allies. This all shows what USA really thinks of India and where India sits on the global power scale.
Also monsoon season is coming up. We may need the drugs to combat malaria as well. If India wants to be a true world power and have respect it needs to be tougher with tougher leaders. Indra Gandhi was tough and the Iron Lady. And Modi I’m sorry to say is no Indra Gandhi.
Do you know how many HCQ capsules tablets are needed by India?
How many are already in the stock?
What is the production capacity of Indian companies?
Any statement without facts is just a reflection of inherent biases.
In fact, The Hindu and Mint had recorded that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had called as well, and the ban was lifted for him too.
It was all done and dusted before Trump’s “threat” this morning. Please do remember the time difference between Washington and New Delhi.
These are enough to expose prestitutes
It is very simple question if Covid 19 virus further spread in india in deep and intensify, and further requirement of Medical equipment arise and supposed USA have surplus or part quantity then indian will hope to USA will come for our help. If situation in USA may further deepen and has our PM refused to help for small , low cost tablet whuch plenty available in india, then india will.join hand with any country with such a face. I think.wharever the Our PM.hs done it wass or is or will be right decision. I will salute to my PM
Mr Gupta completely misses the point that Trump ,known for his plainspeakinug most probably made the threat in his phone calls to Modi as well-and not just in the press conference and is he trying to suggest that the two phone calls from Trump over the weekend had no bearing on the government’s decision to revoke the ban immediately afterwards?
.In any case ,it is all a storm in a teacup as there is no real proof that Hydroxychloroquine works for COVID and Trump in his infinite wisdom has decided to recommend the drug as a miracle cure when his own medical advisor and USA’s premier Infectious disease expert,Dr Faucihimself has said it is all nonsense.
In any case efficacy of an antimalarial to combat a novel virus must be doubtful. It’s utility may be equal to a placebo. All kinds of remedies are floating now.
इसमें कोई गलत नही है, यदि ट्रम्प के धमकी के बाद भी मोदी दवा पर प्रतिबंध हटाते है। जी हाँ, इसमें कोई गलती नही है। और न ही इसमें कोई शर्म की बात है।
लेकिन इस प्रकरण में मोदी जी का छिछा लेदर इसलिए हुआ क्योंकि उन्होंने खुद को भगवान बना रखें है।
दूसरा पहलू यह है कि धमकी को मीडिया कैसे प्यार दिखा रहा है? काबिले तारीफ है। जब खुद पर आता है तो सब बदल जाता है।
The reporter never asked about retaliation by US against India, he asked about retaliation TO US policy of banning ITS exports!!!
The reason is there are several drugs that requires API imported from other countries especially China! These imports are either barely open right now! How will they produce if they don’t have API!
I told my father not to stockpile too much of his neurotic drugs. He’s already finding it hard to get them. Since the adjacent shops don’t have stock. Probably because their buying capacity has decreased and they are only stocking the common ones or the supply is scarce! Only the bigger stores have the now which is also of old stock!
Think about it. There are many sectors of food production that are running at 50% capacity already. Do you think pharma is doing any better? People are being told not to stockpile while the supply is getting lower day by day. People who listened and did not, are regretting their decision!
The thing is that it is only obvious that India exports anything that we actually produce more than we need in a specific span! However, right now, the labor unions are an issue which we often forget which leads to a shortage which might be small right now, but evidently will be worse and I will not be surprised if in 20days, we come to a point where supply/demand ratio is 1.
The article presumes that Trump made his threat only in the press conference (which took place after India had already decided to lift the ban). It could bery well be the case Trump made a similiar threat in his phone call with Modi: and it’s very possible that Modi succumbed to such a threat. Trump’s ‘request’ was probably also a ‘threat’. Should this be the case, then the bru ha ha is indeed not without basis….
India can produce more and undue course can become World leader in pharmaceutical. secondly we shall never forget culture of humanity of India.
We, the readers, are fed by the media, and our reactions are based on such feed. Occasionally, opposition parties may also feast on some feed, hoping it would provide them with enough masala to target the government. Now that you’re saving India didn’t cave in, let’s bury the matter and you may please move on with your immediate journalistic duties.
Don’t be apologetic for Modi, yes for Modi, Mr. Gupta. Trump said there will be retaliation.Simple and pure.
Editor must be dumb or stupid of this artical.
India has a huge population. God forbid, if COVID-19 spreads far and deep, then do we have enough supplies for local requirements? That is question number 1. The second question is, was the first question answered by medical professionals? (or by Modi ji himself?) If the answer to both these questions is yes, then India must export to help the world and also make some money for itself.
Call it my prejudiced mind or whatever, but I am sure the answer to the first question is NO, because answer to the second question is as per the doubt mentioned in its parentheses.
How can you say plainly that we do not have enough supplies for local requirements. Also, America’s budgets on R&D is 20 times more than India, certainly their chance of finding a vaccine first is much more than India.
In that case, India will also require to get vaccines or technology from them.
Fair point. But handing over your STOCKPILE, and sharing your KNOWHOW are two different things. I have not said that if Biocon or some other Indian pharma company has developed the “knowhow”, we shouldn’t share it with the Americans or others. I am advocating miserliness about our “stockpile”.
Similarly, if America develops the knowhow, it will definitely share it with the rest of the world, but it will surely ask its pharma companies to first support the local requirement.
I wish Big Pharma firms quickly come out with a drug for COVID-19 and allow India firms to manufacture it at mass scale. This will be a a kind of Y2K moment for Indian Pharma.
Could you please provide the link for The Hindu April 6th article on India’s decision to lift the ban ?
Great write-up! With proper facts, and in chronology! And it clears all doubts about Trump’s so-called retaliation against India. The other media outlets should learn from this how to do reporting. Shekhar Gupta is definitely one of the best Indian reporters we have.
Don’t be a sycophant Guptaji, Modiji will not be angry if you criticize him once in a while
I totally agree with Shekarji. His pointing out chronology with crisp details is absolute to the point. All other media was just looking at sensationalism the issue. Indian commies anti americanism will never go away. Even 1962 war with China, Indian Chinese supported only China.
Your views on report appearing in the Indian Express today.(8.4.20).
I am totally confused.
Thanks
The problem is simply this: Does India have enough of the drugs for its own people ?
Chronology tho teek he… But what about the outcome of much celebrated ‘ Namaste Trump’ mega show ? Was it mere campaign for Trump’s presidential run? Why PM Modi failed to win the trust of Trump even after repeated calls? Why Trump took the extreme step using language of ” retaliation” against India even after talking to a friend indeed?
Aap nahi samjhoge Abdullah ji…leave it