‘One stance for the world, another in India’: Jairam Ramesh on PM Modi’s ‘One Earth, One Health’ remark at G7 address

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday took a dig at PM Narendra Modi over the latter’s ‘One Earth, One Health’ remark at G7 address.

Addressing G7 countries yesterday, Modi called for following a ”one earth, one health” approach to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic globally, and sought the support of the G7 grouping to lift patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

Alleging that the Prime Minister was taking “one stance for the world, another in India” on licensing of Covid-19 vaccines, Ramesh in a tweet stated: “To G7, He says— ‘One Earth, One Health’, asking for patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines. In Supreme Court, His govt takes a completely different stance. Does not invoke compulsory licensing.”

He was referring to a proposal by the Opposition that calls for compulsory licensing of Covid-19 vaccines and drugs to boost manufacturing in the country.

In May, the Modi government opposed compulsory licensing of the Covid-19 vaccines and medicines, saying it won’t help boost manufacturing as raw material supply was an issue.

“One stance for the world, another in India. Why this ‘anarth’?” the Congress leader wrote.