JOIN USIndia calls out the West, says food grains shouldn’t go the way of Covid vaccines
After drawing flak for its restrictions on export of wheat, India on Thursday turned the tables on the West, accusing them of disregarding principles of equity, affordability and accessibility in case of anti-Covid-19 vaccines and asking them not to do the same again in case of food grains.
“It is necessary for all of us to adequately appreciate the importance of equity, affordability and accessibility when it comes to food grains,” V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, said, representing the Government of India at a ministerial meeting convened by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State of the United States, in New York to discuss the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the consequent supply disruptions on. “We have already seen to our great cost how these principles were disregarded in the case of Covid-19 vaccines. Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination.”
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The meeting was held at the United Nations headquarters and was attended by the international organisation’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
New Delhi drew flak from the United States and the other G-7 nations after banned export of wheat without prior government approval on May 13.
Muraleedharan said at the ministerial meeting convened by the US that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi had recognized the sudden spike in global prices of wheat which had put the food security of India and its neighbours and other vulnerable countries at risk.
“We are committed to ensuring that such adverse impact on food security is effectively mitigated and the vulnerable cushioned against sudden changes in the global market,” he said, adding that the restrictions imposed on export of wheat on May 13 was aimed at managing the own overall food security of India and support the needs of neighbouring and other vulnerable developing countries. “These measures allow for export on the basis of approvals to those countries who are required to meet their food security demands,” Muraleedharan said. “This will be done on the request from the concerned governments. Such a policy will ensure that we will truly respond to those who are most in need.”
India over the past few days sent out words around the world that it would grant “exemptions on case-to-case basis” to allow export of wheat to its “neighbours and friends around the world”. It already gave the go-ahead for export of 61500 MT of wheat to Egypt on Tuesday.
Muraleedharan underlined that all humanitarian aid and assistance must be primarily guided by the universal principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. “These measures must not be politicized. There is an urgent need for the donor community, to scale up assistance to conflict affected countries and to ensure that humanitarian agencies receive the necessary funding to fully execute their plans without politicization of basic needs of the people,” he said, articulating New Delhi’s position.
The Group of Seven industrialized nations had earlier denounced India’s move to restrict export of wheat, stating that such measures would worsen the global food crisis caused by supply disruption due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The bloc also said that India's ban on export of wheat would also affect its neighbours like Bangladesh and Nepal. President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack, had expressed “deep concern” over India’s move to restrict export of wheat. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the permanent representative of the US to the UN, had expressed hope that India would reconsider the restrictions.
Muraleedharan pointed out that India had provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries in South Asia and Africa, to strengthen their food security. He also recalled India’s donation of 50000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan and 10000 tons of rice and wheat to Myanmar. India was also assisting Sri Lanka including with food assistance as the island nation had of late plunged into a grave economic crisis, he added.