Friendship isn't about retaliation: Rahul Gandhi takes dig at Modi govt over Hydrooxychloroquine export

Gandhi, a staunch opponent of Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tweeted, "Friendship isn’t about retaliation. India must help all nations in their hour of need but lifesaving medicines should be made available to Indians in ample quantities first."

After Trump issued the warning, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said in a statement, "Given the enormity of the COVID19 pandemic, India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation."

"This approach also guided our evacuation of nationals of other countries," he said.

Speaking on supplying drugs, Srivastava said, "In view of the humanitarian aspects of the pandemic, it has been decided that India would licence paracetamol and HCQ in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on our capabilities."

"We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic," he said.

He said the issue related to such move should not be politicised.

"We would therefore discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter," he said.

"With regard to paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), they will be kept in a licensed category and their demand position would be continuously monitored. However, the stock position could allow our companies to meet the export commitments that they had contracted," read the statement.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump during a conversation with Modi urged New Delhi to export Hydrooxychloroquine.

After he had learnt about the news that India might not export the drug, Trump in his latest statement said, "I don't like that decision, I didn't hear that was his decision. I know that he stopped it for other countries. I spoke to him yesterday, we had a very good talk and we'll see whether or not that's his."

"I spoke to him Sunday morning, called him, and I said, we'd appreciate you allowing our supply to come out. If he doesn't allow it to come out. That would be OK. But of course, there may be retaliation. Why wouldn't there be," he told a news briefing on Monday. 

Though China's Wuhan was the epicentre of COVID-19, the US at present is rattled by the pandemic virus with more than 347,000 people nationwide infected while the toll has surpassed 10,000.

The situation is better in India with around 4,500 people infected but the experts have warned that the poor health system of the country could get overwhelmed if the figure swells greatly.