New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Calling out for joint efforts to defeat the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India is ready to do whatever is possible to “help its friends” in the fight against the dreadful infection.

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro thanked India for allowing the export of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, PM Modi said that New Delhi is committed to contribute to humanity's fight against this pandemic.

“We have to jointly fight this pandemic. India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends. Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel,” PM Modi said while replying to Netanyahu.

We have to jointly fight this pandemic.



India is ready to do whatever is possible to help our friends.



Praying for the well-being and good health of the people of Israel. @netanyahu https://t.co/jChdGbMnfH — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2020

“Thank you President Jair Bolsonaro. The India-Brazil partnership is stronger than ever in these challenging times. India is committed to contribute to humanity's fight against this pandemic,” PM Modi said while replying to the Brazilian President.

PM had a telephone conversation on April 3 with Benjamin Netanyahu where the two leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the response strategies adopted by their respective governments to counter the health crisis.



The leaders also explored possible collaboration between India and Israel in fighting the pandemic, including by improving the availability of pharmaceutical supplies and by innovative use of high technology.



On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump thanked PM Modi and the people of India for lifting curbs on the export of hydroxychloroquine.



"Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you, India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" Trump had said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday.



India is the largest manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine in the world but the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had banned exports of the drug and its ingredients in view of the rapid rise in the infection-related cases in the country.

(With ANI inputs)

Posted By: Aalok Sensharma