Jaishankar describes Delhi CM’s comments on Singapore variant as irresponsible

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s comments on the Singapore Covid variant has threatened to cast a shadow on the strategic partnership between India and the city state which recently supplied the country with a huge number of oxygen tankers and other equipment. Timely intervention by the Ministry External Affairs (MEA) prevented further damage.

The MEA, in a damage control exercise, reacted sharply to the Delhi CM’s comments with the external affairs minister describing it as irresponsible that can damage long-standing partnerships.

In a sharply-worded reaction, foreign minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday tweeted, “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.” Singapore has supplied 64 cryogenic tankers to India critical for oxygen storage and transfer of oxygen within the country.

“Singapore and India have been solid partners in the fight against #COVID19… irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage long-standing partnerships. So, let me clarify –– Delhi CM does not speak for India,” Jaishankar further tweeted.

This was appreciated by his Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan. He tweeted, “Thanks @DrSJaishankar let’s focus on resolving the situation in our respective countries and helping one another. Nobody is safe until everyone is safe.”

In Delhi, Simon Wong, Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, appreciated the remarks by Jaishankar and hoped that the matter will be put to rest now. “We are keen to put this episode behind. We are satisfied with the remarks by the Indian minister,” Wong told a select group of reporters here.

“Singapore has refuted the points made by the Delhi government. We were taken aback by the remarks at a time when Singapore is working closely with India to fight the pandemic,” Simon said, adding, “These were unfounded assertions. We received huge support from well wishers on social media after the assertions were made.”

When asked about naming the B.1.617.2 variant as an Indian variant, the envoy said Singapore does not categorise on those lines. “It is a global virus which we have to fight together. Vaccination is key to fight this.”

Earlier in the day, the Singapore government called in India’s High Commissioner to convey strong objections to the Delhi CM’s tweet on the ‘Singapore variant’. The Indian High Commissioner clarified that the Delhi CM is not a competent authority on Covid variants or the civil aviation policy. In a message for Kejriwal, Balakrishnan tweeted, “Politicians should stick to facts! There is no “Singapore variant”.”

On Tuesday night, in a statement released by the Ministry of Health, Singapore rubbished reports stating that the prevalent strain in recent cases was the B.1.617.2 variant that was first detected in India. It asserted that there is “no truth whatsoever” in such assertions.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said the new strain of coronavirus could invade India in the form of a third wave, saying: “The new form of coronavirus in Singapore is said to be very dangerous for children. It could reach Delhi in the form of a third wave. My appeal to the Central government: 1. Cancel all air services with Singapore with immediate effect 2. Work on vaccine alternatives for children on a priority basis.”

Singapore has been a key pillar of India’s SE Asia policy for decades. From economic to people to people ties, the partnership has acquired a new dimension through expansion of strategic partnership.