India warns the West, indicating food grains should not go as COVID vaccinations

20 May 2022
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India warns the West, indicating food grains should not go as COVID vaccinations

After receiving criticism for its restrictions on wheat exports, India accused the West of neglecting principles of justice, affordability, and accessibility in the case of anti-Covid-19 vaccinations, and asked them not to do so again in the case of food grains. Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres  was present at the meeting, which was held at the UN headquarters. The United States and the other G-7 nations chastised New Delhi after it barred wheat exports without previous government approval.

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KEY POINTS:

• V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, represented India in a ministerial conference in New York held by Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, to discuss the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resulting supply disruptions.
• When it comes to food grains, he believes that everyone needs to understand the importance of equity, affordability, and accessibility.
• The world has already witnessed how these principles were neglected at tremendous expense in the example of Covid-19 vaccinations. The justification for open markets must not be used to justify unfairness and discrimination.At a ministerial meeting held by the US, Muraleedharan stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi had noticed the abrupt jump in global wheat prices, which had put India’s food security, as well as those of its neighbours and other vulnerable countries, in jeopardy.
• Muraleedharan noted that India had sent food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to a number of nations in South Asia and Africa in order to improve their food security.
• He also mentioned India’s donation of 50 thousand tonnes of wheat to the Afghan people and 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to Myanmar.
• India was also supporting Sri Lanka with food aid, as the island nation had just fallen victim to a severe economic crisis.

Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:

• Minister of State for External Affairs, GoI: Shri V Muraleedharan
• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres
• US Secretary of State: Antony Blinken