AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday criticised appointment of a BJP member as public relations officer for Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, calling it a case of impropriety.

The Hyderabad MP reminded Soundararajan that the Governor is a titular head. “Appointing a BJP party member as your Public relations officer is a case of impropriety,” he tweeted.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President was reacting to a tweet by a journalist that the PRO of BJP in Tamil Nadu is handling public relations for Soundararajan, who is also Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Owaisi also tweeted that this has also raised doubts about her complaints with regards to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The Governor, who recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has been complaining about the Telangana government, alleged that it insulted the office of Governor.

The Governor expressed her unhappiness over the Chief Minister and ministers rejecting her invitations to various events at Raj Bhavan including the recent pre-Ugadi celebrations.

She has also slammed the state government for scrapping the Governor’s customary address to the joint session of both the houses of the state legislature on the first day of the Budget session.

The TRS government, however, defended its move saying it was not a new session as the previous session was not prorogued.

The state ministers have also found fault with the Governor for speaking like a politician. They reminded her that she is holding a Constitutional post and the Governor’s post also has its limits.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that a mere FIR against those who called for genocide of Muslims at the Dharam Sansad at Haridwar will not help and demanded their arrest.

The Hyderabad MP told reporters here that the organisations who gave the call should be banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Haridwar police on Saturday named two more persons in the First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the alleged hate speeches.

The police earlier booked Wasim Rizvi aka Jitendra Tyagi, and others under Section 153A Indian Penal Code in the case.

Owaisi said the silence of the Samajwadi Party and Congress on the issue had exposed them. He said both the parties worried that they will not get the ‘other vote’ in ensuing elections. “They (speakers at Haridwar meet) even called for killing Manmohan Singh, who is former Prime Minister of this country. When will you react,” he asked Congress leaders.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President said all political parties who believe in the Constitution and the rule of law have to break their silence because the Dharma Sanasad gave an open call for genocide of Muslims. “They said that the Rohingyas in Myanmar were killed and made homeless, Muslims in India should be dealt in similar way,” he said.

Owaisi alleged that Dharam Sansad was held and such things were spoken there with the blessing and full support of the BJP government in Uttarakhand.

He also tweeted that Dharam Sansad at Raipur was also not possible without the support of the Congress government in Chhttisgarh. He pointed out that Ramsunder Das, who is the Chairman of Chhattisgarh Gau-Seva Commission and has a cabinet rank, was the chief patron of the Dharam Sansad.

Reacting to reports that Ramsunder Das walked off stage when Sant Kalicharan Maharaj was abusing Mahatma Gandhi, the MP made series of tweets.

He referred to Kalicharan’s remarks that the MP, MLA, minister and Prime Minister should be hardcore Hidutvawadi, that if people don’t cast votes, Islam will dominate the country and the remark that people should vote in maximum numbers to choose a rule who is staunch Hindutvawadi, no matter which political party he comes from.

“Didn’t Ram Sundar find this statement objectionable? Isn’t this statement condemnable? Congress leader Pramod Dubey, BJP leaders Satchidanand Upasane and Nandkumar Sai were also present in the audience when Kalicharan was delivering this speech. No one broke his silence,” wrote Owaisi.

Owaisi said the talks of Hindu Rashtra, massacre of Muslims, love jihad took place under the patronage of a leader of the rank of cabinet minister of Congress. “The FIR has been registered only on the statement of Gandhiji. Does this mean the talk of our carnage is not a matter of concern,” he asked.

The AIMIM leader also took a dig at Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. “Baghel ji can stage a dharna in Uttar Pradesh, but what is happening in his own state in the name of religion? Everyone is in this race that who is the biggest Hindu,” he said

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the decision of Narendra Modi government to raise the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, terming it “ridiculous”.

The Hyderabad MP said both men and women should be allowed to legally marry at 18 as they are treated as adults by the law for all other purposes.

“This is typical paternalism that we have come to expect from the govt. 18 year old men & women can sign contracts, start businesses, choose Prime Ministers & elect MPs & MLAs but not marry,” he said in a tweet.

“They can consent to sexual relationships and live-in partnerships but cannot choose their life partners? Just ridiculous”, he added.

The proposal to raise the minimum age of marriage for women was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. The government said the move was to save women from malnutrition.

Owaisi said: “If Modi was sincere, he would have focused on increasing economic opportunities for women. Yet India is the only country where women’s participation in workforce is dwindling. It fell to 16 per cent in 2020 from 26 per cent in 2005.”

“Men & women are treated as adults at 18 for most critical things. Why is marriage any different? The legal age is not really a criteria; the essential goal must be to ensure education, economic progress & human development.”

He pointed out that in many US states, marriage age is as low as 14. In UK and Canada, it is 16. In New Zealand, 16-19 year olds can marry with parental consent. These nations improved human development of young people so that they can take informed decisions rather than fixing arbitrary age restrictions, he said.

“In contrast, Modi govt acts like a Mohalla Uncle. Deciding what we eat, who/when we marry, what God we worship, etc. Ironically, govt proposes 18 as age of consent in Data Bill. If 18-year olds can choose how their data is used, why can’t they choose their life partners,” he asked.

The Lok Sabha member pointed out that child marriages are rampant in the country despite a law. “Every fourth woman in India was married before turning 18 but only 785 criminal cases of child marriages were recorded. If child marriages have reduced from before, it’s due to education & economic progress, not criminal law.”

“There are 12m kids married before they even turned 10. 84 per cent of these are from Hindu families & only 11 per cent are Muslim. This clearly points to the fact that social reform and government initiatives in education & human development are critical to preventing child marriages,” Owaisi wrote.

“More than legal age of marriage, it is improved education & better economic prospects for youngsters, that impacts when they marry. 45 per cent of poorest households had child marriages; only 10 per cent of wealthiest households did so,” he added.

Owaisi said that it’s essential to improve the educational status of women to ensure autonomous decision-making. “What has the government done to improve education for girls,” he said and alleged that 79 per cent of Rs.446.72 crore Beti Bachao Beti Padhao budget was spent on advertisements.

The MP said the Supreme Court recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right for adults. “The autonomy to take decisions concerning oneself are critical to this fundamental right. This includes the right to choose a partner & the right to decide if/when to have children.”

“It’s time to stop thinking of young people as children in perpetuity. They should be allowed the space to think & decide for themselves. This is also why I’ve proposed a private members’ bill that will allow 20 year olds to become MPs & MLAs,” Owaisi added.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that the demolition of Babri Masjid will always be remembered.

On 29th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the MP from Hyderabad took to Twitter to post a video clip from his old speech with the hashtag #NeverForgetBabri.

Owaisi had said in his speech that even while taking last breath, “we will tell our children to remember the martyrdom of Babri Masjid”.

Meanwhile, the anniversary of the demolition passed off peacefully in Hyderabad amid tight security arrangements by the police.

Unlike in the past, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) or no other major Muslim organisation called for shutdown or observing a “black day”.

However, a few smaller religious organisations had called upon people to observe the anniversary as a black day by shutting down their business.

Few Muslim shopkeepers in the old city of Hyderabad kept their shops closed while black flags were hoisted at few places to mark the day.

Wahdat-e-Islami organised an all party protest meeting at Masjid Ujale Shah in Saeedabad area to demand reconstruction of Babri Masjid. Speakers at the meeting vowed to continue their fight till reconstruction of the mosque at the same place where it stood till December 6, 1992.

Tehreek-e-Muslim Shabban President Mushtaq Malik said that once a mosque is built at a place it remains a mosque for eternity. “Irrespective of the changes made in its status, a mosque remains a mosque till the end of this world,” he said.

Malik claimed that the court had ruled in favour of the mosque by calling the act of installation of idols surreptitiously in 1949 a “crime”. “The court also called the demolition of Babri Masjid a criminal act. We have two evidences in favour of the mosque. Inshalla it will be rebuilt and history will witness this,” he said.

All India Muslim League leader Abdul Sattar Mujahid, who had called for observing a black day, said a grave injustice was done by demolishing the mosque and building a temple at the same place. He said black day should be observed every year till the mosque is rebuilt at its original site.

Women and children staged a peaceful protest in Saeedabad. They were carrying black flags and banners which read “a mosque remains a mosque”, “duty of ummat to reclaim mosque”, and “mosques are property of Allah”. The women also offered namaz and prayed for reconstruction of Babri Masjid.

In view of the call given by some organisations, police had made elaborate security arrangements in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Additional forces were deployed at sensitive places. Security was tightened near the historic Mecca Masjid near Charminar and near other places of worship.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday slammed the Narendra Modi government for allowing the Indian cricket team to play a T20 match with Pakistan at a time when “our soldiers are being killed in Kashmir”.

India is scheduled to play the first match of T20 World Cup against Pakistan in Dubai on October 24.

Addressing a public meeting on the eve of Eid Milad-un-Nabi at AIMIM headquarters Darussalam, he said: “Pakistan is playing T20 with Indian lives in Kashmir. How can we play a match against them amid regular terror attacks there?”

He recalled how Prime Minister Modi had criticised then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “for sharing biryani with the Pakistan PM when Indian jawans were being killed on the borders”.

Owaisi also alleged that the targetted killings in Kashmir were a result of lack of policy of terrorism by the Modi government, and questioned the government’s claim that problems in Kashmir have ended with the repeal of Article 370.

Referring to the death of labourers from Bihar in Kashmir, he wondered what the intelligence agencies and Home Minister Amit Shah were doing.

The AIMIM leader also lashed out at PM Modi for his silence on petrol and diesel prices.

“He is silent on skyrocketing fuel prices. The cost of petrol and diesel have hit the century mark, yet he has not commented on it.”

Owaisi also questioned the Prime Minister on his silence over Chinese Army entering and occupying the Indian territory. “Why is he afraid of even taking the name of China,” he asked.

The AIMIM also voiced concern over the situation faced by Muslims in the country.

Quoting a 27-year-old lawyer to describe the current situation, he said: “A Muslim is living under the threat of someone attacking his shop or a mob lynching him. He feels helpless. They (the government) have criminalised triple talaq, they have criminalised religious conversions and they are trying to bring Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) through backdoor. If I protest, they book me under UAPA or NSA.”

At the press meet, he also discussed how there are lack of opportunities and no inter-mobility among Muslims. According to him, because of Hindutva, his Hindu friends and business partners have distanced themselves from him.

Owaisi, however, advised Muslims not to lose hope. He said they should keep their spirits up and face the situation with courage.

He also urged the youth to self-introspect and keep themselves away from all societal evils by offering prayers, building character, desisting from taking dowry and helping the poor and needy, irrespective of their community.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday urged the Telangana government to announce a scheme on the lines of ‘Dalit Bandhu’ for economic empowerment of extremely poor Muslims in the state.

The Hyderabad MP made the demand while addressing a symposium on “Muslims in Telangana: Poverty and other challenges”.

Stating that Telangana’s Muslims face deprivation like Dalits, he demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to extend the same benefits provided under ‘Dalit Bandhu’ to Muslims living below poverty line.

Under ‘Dalit Bandhu’ launched last month on pilot basis in Huzurabad constituency, the state government is providing a grant of Rs 10 lakh to every Dalit family. The scheme aims at empowering Dalits and enabling entrepreneurship among them through a direct benefit transfer.

“If extremely poor Muslim households are given the same amount, it would go a long way in improving their lives,” said the President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

Terming Dalit Bandhu a revolutionary scheme, Owaisi pointed out that this is the country’s largest cash transfer programme. He hailed the ‘visionary’ step by the Chief Minister.

“We welcome the scheme and demand that Telangana take similar affirmative action for Muslims – not on the basis of religion but on strength of their deprivation and marginalisation,” he said

The Lok Sabha member pointed out that there are around 8.8 Muslim households in Telangana, and the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) has estimated that about 8.5 per cent Muslims live under below poverty line.

“It is safe to assume that at least 1-2 per cent of these households live in abject poverty and need urgent measures to protect them. Ideally, at least 18,000 households should be considered for this scheme. This would amount to only Rs 1,800 crore as a one-time expense for the state but its benefits would far outlast the expense as a whole generation could be saved from abject poverty,” he said.

Owaisi said if this amount is considered too much, at least one per cent or 9,000 households should be covered, which would amount to only Rs 900 crore.

“This is not an astronomical amount by any measure. We wouldn’t even need new allocation: the unutilised minority budget in the last 4 years would amount to Rs 1,800 crore,” he said.

Owaisi said his party will raise this demand in the ongoing Assembly session and exuded confidence that the Chief Minister will announce and implement the scheme.

Experts at the symposium provided empirical data on social, educational and economic backwardness of Muslims in Telangana.

Muslims constitute 12.8 per cent of the population of Telangana, numbering nearly 4.8 million in a total population of 38 million. Despite being overwhelmingly urban, the Muslim population is the second poorest, just marginally above the predominantly rural Scheduled Tribes (ST). According to the findings of the Sudhir Commission, about 48 per cent of Muslim households in the State live on an income of less than Rs 10,000 a month.

Reiterating the demand for construction of new building of the Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday said that saving lives is more important than saving heritage.

“If you want to save heritage, save it, but if you want to save lives, and save money, we need a new building for Osmania Hospital,” he said after inaugurating the 23-bed Covid ward at the Indo-US Hospital at Malakpet here.

During a visit to the Osmania Hospital last month, the MP demanded that the state government build a new hospital at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

“If you want to keep the building, keep it; If you want to demolish it, do so,” he had said.

Heritage activists, who have been urging the government to protect the heritage structure, had taken exception to the MP’s remarks.

Owaisi, however, defended his stand, saying the condition of the Osmania Hospital is deteriorating with every passing day. He said the Osmania Hospital needs a built-up area of 20 lakh square feet.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said that people criticising his party for supporting the Osmania Hospital’s new building are neither aware of the situation at the hospital nor have ever visited it for treatment.

The MP said when the Chief Minister can demolish the Warangal Jail and build a hospital there, why can’t he build a new building for the Osmania Hospital Medical College, which is the oldest medical college in the country and has given countless doctors in different disciplines.

“The annual number of surgeries has come down from 90,000 to 45,000 at the Osmania Hospital. We will not let the government escape the Osmania Hospital issue, by citing heritage concerns,” he said.

Designed by Vincent Esch, the Osmania Hospital building on the banks of Musi River was completed in 1925.

Owaisi pointed out that the shortage of beds and ventilators led to loss of many lives during the second wave. “Covid treatment is expensive. And hospitals like these (Indo-US Hospital, Osmania Hospital) can help patients save their hard earned money during times of crises,” he said.

He assured cooperation to the Sahayata Trust-run Indo-US Hospital to further improve healthcare infrastructure and Covid treatment facilities with the help of his MP fund.

Earlier, Owaisi went around the Covid-19 ward with Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala. The facility is equipped with critical care specialists, 24×7 piped Oxygen, ventilators, bi-pap machines and additional oxygen cylinders in case of emergencies.

High quality oxygen concentrators with dual output, dialysis machines and even an in-house oxygen plant that is due for import on July 15 will provide best medical support to Covid patients.

Once operational, the oxygen plant funded by IMRC, US and implemented by the Sahayata Trust, which manages the hospital, will be able to provide 24×7 liquid medical oxygen for Covid-19 patients at the hospital. “In case of emergencies, free refills of oxygen cylinders will be provided by the Trust,” said Sahayata Trust CEO Syed Aneesuddin.

He said another oxygen plant would come up at Toli Chowki in the city. Two new branches of the Indo-US Hospital are proposed in the city at Toli Chowki and Shah Ali Banda.

Aneesuddin thanked IMRC Chairman Manzoor Ghori for funding the Sahayata Trust projects. He said Indo-US Hospital has been offering treatment at subsidised prices for a long time.

Director of the Indo-US Hospital, Dr Mohammed Abdul Moiz said they trained specialists to follow Covid 19 guidelines issued by the Central government and the WHO.

If present trends are to be believed, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi seems to be eyeing big gains in Rajasthan in the long run by luring Bharatiya Tribal Party.

In a surprising move, Owaisi recently extended his support to Bharatiya Tribal Party in Rajasthan soon after it announced to withdraw its support to the Congress.

The BTP recently announced its separation with the ruling party in Rajasthan after the Congress joined hands with BJP to defeat BTP in Zila Parishad polls in Dungarpur district.

Soon after the stunning political episode, BTP National president Chhotubhai Vasava, tweeted, “#BJP Congress are one. This is the only truth.”

Replying to his tweet, Owaisi said, “Vasavaji Congress will teach you and me the lesson of Opposition unity in the morning and evening. However, it will not rise above the Janeyudhari unity itself. Both of them are basically one. How long will you support them? Is your independent power anywhere less than a kingmaker? Hope you will take a right decision soon. We are with you in this struggle of stake,” he said.

It needs to be mentioned here that there were reports of Owaisi taking a strong interest in Rajasthan soon after municipal polls were recently held in three districts. The Muslim leaders of the state wanted their community to be represented as they had a strong number of corporators in the walled city.

Feeling deserted, these community leaders then approached Owaisi, and since then, Owaisi is monitoring political developments in the state, confirmed official sources.

AIMIM is keeping a strong vigil on 40 seats dominated by Muslims in state, they added.

Owaisi’s tweet further strengthens this claim.

As he has already marked a significant presence in Bihar, he now seems to be making attempts to change political equations in tribal and Muslim belts in Rajasthan too, confirmed sources.

In present situation, if Owaisi ties up with BTP, then he can be the gamechanger in tribal dominated seats of Gujarat, MP and Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, the BTP stands strong in Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgarh districts.

The party has two MLAs representing Rajasthan Assembly. However, the party which supported Congress in Rajya Sabha polls as well as during political crisis reported in July has withdrawn its support to the party.

Rajkumar Rout, BTP MLA, told IANS, “Our party has announced to withdraw support to the Congress as it joined hands with the BJP to emerge winner in the recent local polls. We are elected representatives and need to answer to people who voted for us. They were questioning us about how we could support a party who can join hands with the opposition to emerge as the winner,” he said.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now set on what shall be the next step of Owaisi in the state. Will it continue to be the two-party dominated state or if there will be a third front coming in at any point, remains the most discussed question in political corridors.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday demanded some relaxation in containment zones which reported no new case of Covid-19 for 15 days.

The Hyderabad MP suggested that the affected household and its immediate neighbours be treated as the containment zone while some relaxations be given in the rest of the area.

Owaisi, in a series of tweets, said that there were a total of 215 containment zones in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

There were 114 containment zones in Hyderabad Parliament constituency and adjoining Nampally Assembly constituency, and 40 of them have been cleared, including the areas of Karwan, Malakpet, Santoshnagar, Chandrayangutta, Charminar, Falaknuma, Mehdipatnam and Goshamahal, he said.

As many as 24 of the remaining 74 zones will Thursday complete 15 days since the last reported case of Covid-19. The remaining 50 will complete their 15 days around May 2/3.

Owaisi thanked AIMIM MLAs, corporators and other party workers for helping residents of containment zones access necessary amenities. He also thanked GHMC Municipal Commissioner and the staff for their untiring efforts.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday distributed Personal Protection Equipment (PPE Kits) among Asha, Anganwadi workers and police personnel.

Owaisi distributed 178 PPE kits and 2,640 mini kits among Asha and Anganwadi workers of Hyderabad Parliamentary constituency, Nampally Assembly constituency and Bholakpur, Shaikpet and Erragadda municipal wards.

The AIMIM chief handed over the kits to Greater Hyderabad Mayor Bonthu Rammohan at a programme held at Shastripuram. It was also attended by Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban development, Arvind Kumar, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Lokesh Kumar and other officials.

Owaisi also handed over 350 PPE kits to Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar for distribution among the police personnel working at outposts around Hyderabad.

Each PPE kit comprised one N95 mask, 10 triple layer masks, 10 pair gloves (latex), one 200 ml bottle sanitizer and PPE suit. Each mini had one N95 mask, 10 triple layer masks, 10 pair gloves (latex) and one 200 ml bottle sanitizer.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, once again ignored the plight of the vast majority of Indians.

“Today, Wazeer e Azam has again ignored the plight of the vast majority of Indians who have been thrown into a state of hunger, homelessness and inconceivable desperation,” the Hyderabad MP tweeted reacting to Modi’s address to the nation on Tuesday.

He said the Prime Minister had left these people to the charity and goodwill of the rich. A lockdown without thinking about the hungry and deprived is cruelty of the highest form, he added.

Owaisi said the Prime Minister’s “addresses to the nation” are things that can be done through a single tweet.

“As Telangana chief minister has been demanding states need relaxation of existing financial norms, fiscal relief and immediate aid.”

“How long will the Union government issue farmaans without providing support to states? How long will it say that states have the responsibility to feed hungry while not even releasing excess stock from FCI? If states are responsible then what’ll the Union do? Issue more guidelines,” he asked.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said Narendra Modi is his Prime Minister too not just the Prime Minister of India or the PM of a few political parties in this country.

Reacting to why he was not called for the video-conference of all floor leaders recently held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Owaisi said, “I asked the prime minister that whichever party has five MPs you have called them, but you are calling those who have less than five MPs in the Parliament. The Prime Minister has not called me and my other MP from Aurangabad. He has not called the three MPs from Indian Union Muslim League from Kerala. You know that the first three cases were reported in Kerala,” Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 interacted with floor leaders of various parties via a video conference. Floor leaders of all those parties which have a combined strength of more than five MPs in both houses of Parliament were asked to part in the video interaction with the PM.

All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has renewed his tirade against the government for allegedly relaxing the export norms for Hydroxychloroquine.

In his latest tweet on Tuesday, the AIMIM strongman took a potshot at the much vaunted friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Owaisi’s stated sarcastically in his tweet directed at the Prime Minister, “Howdy @PMOIndia! This is not from very long ago. Why is ‘India’s friend in the White House’ talking of retaliation? Will you tolerate this insult to Bharat?”

On Monday, India had announced a partial relaxation on the export of different pharmaceutical formulations on a need-to basis. Coming on the back of Trump’s purported threat to retaliate if India did not supply hydroxychloroquine to the US, the government’s announcement on exports relaxation has not gone down well with many in the opposition, including Owaisi.

On March 25, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had put a freeze on exports of Hydroxychloroquine, with a provision for case-by-case exemptions on humanitarian grounds. The DGFT had announced partial exemptions on Monday.

Hydroxychloroquine is a pharmaceutical compound used in treating malaria and is currently in demand for its reported efficacy in preventing and treating many cases of coronavirus. The drug has been in particular demand in the US following a massive outbreak of coronavirus there.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, India’s External Affairs Ministry stepped in to clarify that the partial relaxation has been done on humanitarian grounds.

Howdy @PMOIndia! This is not from very long ago. Why is "India's friend in the White House" talking of retaliation? Will you tolerate this insult to Bharat? https://t.co/rxtVvzRIDK pic.twitter.com/KQZ6y5GJd6

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 7, 2020