There was a report that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had organised a visit of heads of foreign missions to two vaccine developing centres located in Hyderabad. Envoys (Ambassadors and High Commissioners) of 64 countries from Asia, Europe, North and South Americas and Oceania were flown by a special Air India flight.
The people were divided into two batches and went around seeing the facilities of Bharat Biotech and Biological E. The envoys were briefed by top officials at these two centres.
For several reasons the visit needs to be condemned by all. Why should India need to update the envoys about the progress of the vaccine work? Do the foreign countries fund the work that we need to take apprise them of the work been done? Are these countries going to buy India’s Covaxin that they need to checkout our facilities?
When India placed huge orders for vaccines from abroad, did our experts or envoys visit those laboratories? The two centres at Hyderabad are highly sterile areas and should be out of bounds for all except for the people working there. It is pitiable that the MEA officials bend backward to please the 64 envoys at the cost of Indian taxpayers.
Hope the defense ministry do not follow their colleagues example and arrange for visits of envoys to India’s defense establishments and research centres! Anything is possible!
