Brazil Thanks India For Allowing Export Of Drugs By Referencing Lord Hanuman

On the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro compared India’s move to allow export of hydroxychloroquine to reach his country to Lord Hanuman and Sanjeevani booti in the epic Ramayana.

“Just as Lord Hanuman brought the holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Rama’s brother Laksmana, and Jesus healed those who were sick and restored the sight to Bartimeu, India and Brazil will overcome this global crisis by joining forces and sharing blessings for the sake of all peoples. Please accept, your Excellency, the assurances of my highest esteem and consideration,” read the letter from President Jair Bolsonaro to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government had put a hold on exports of hydroxychloroquine as well as on the pain reliever, paracetamol, saying stocks were depleting because of the hit to global supply chains after the coronavirus emerged in China late last year.

Donald Trump spoke to PM Modi over the weekend seeking supplies and on Monday said India may face retaliation if it didn’t withdraw the ban on exports. India’s neighbours, including Nepal, have also sought the anti-malaria drug.

Later, foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said, “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.