Singapore objects to Arvind Kejriwal's Covid-19 variant remark, Centre says CM does not speak for India

Singapore on Wednesday conveyed to Indian High Commissioner P Kumaran its strong objection to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals comments that a variant of Covid19 found in that country was particularly harmful to children and could cause a third wave of infections in IndiaFollowing Singapore foreign ministrys reaction regretting the unfounded assertions by Kejriwal External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Delhi chief minister does not speak for IndiaMEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian High Commissioner conveyed to the Singapore government that the Delhi chief minister had no competence to comment on Covid19 variantsSingapore Government called in our High Commissioner today to convey strong objection to Delhi CMs tweet on Singapore variant High Commissioner clarified that Delhi CM had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policymdash Arindam Bagchi MEAIndia May 19 2021In its statement the Singapore foreign ministry said there is no Singapore variant and that the strain prevalent in many of the Covid19 cases in recent weeks is the B16172 variant which was first detected in IndiaSingapore Government called in our High Commissioner today to convey strong objection to Delhi CMs tweet on Singapore variant High Commissioner clarified that Delhi CM had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policy Bagchi tweetedThere is no truth in the assertion that there is a new COVID strain in Singapore Phylogenetic testing has shown that the B16172 variant is the prevalent strain in many of the COVID cases including in children in recent weeks in Singaporehttpstcouz0mNPNxlE httpstcoVyj7gyyzvJmdash Singapore in India SGinIndia May 18 2021The Singapore foreign ministry said it is disappointed that a prominent political figure had failed to ascertain the facts before making such claimsTaking to Twitter Kejriwal on Tuesday called for cancelling all air services with Singapore with immediate effect saying a strain of coronavirus found in that country could reach Delhi in the form of a third waveThe 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 Kejriwal had said in a tweet in Hindi 1 2 mdash Arvind Kejriwal ArvindKejriwal May 18 2021Also Read Arvind Kejriwal appeals Centre to cancel flights from Singapore over virus strain very dangerous for kidsIn a series of tweets on Wednesday Jaishankar said Singapore and India have been solid partners in combating the pandemic and appreciated the countrys role as a logistics hub and oxygen supplierTheir gesture of deploying military aircraft to help us speaks of our exceptional relationship Jaishankar saidHowever irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage longstanding partnerships So let me clarify Delhi CM does not speak for India he saidHowever irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage longstanding partnerships So let me clarify Delhi CM does not speak for Indiamdash Dr S Jaishankar DrSJaishankar May 19 2021Singapores Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA said the assertions made by Kejriwal were unfoundedMFA regrets the unfounded assertions made on Facebook and Twitter by Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal that a variant of Covid19 found in Singapore was particularly harmful to children and could cause a third wave of infections in India it saidMFA is disappointed that a prominent political figure had failed to ascertain the facts before making such claims it saidThe MFA said it met High Commissioner Kumaran this morning to express these concernsAs highlighted by MOH in its press release of 18 May 2021 there is no ldquoSingapore variantrdquo The strain prevalent in many of the Covid19 cases in recent weeks is the B16172 variant which was first detected in India the MFA saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever