UK Covid rule discriminatory,India warns of "reciprocal measures"

India has called the UK vaccine policy mandating quarantine even for fully vaccinated Indians a “discriminatory policy” and added that the country has used vaccines made in India for their own health system.The External Affairs Ministry has further said, “Non-recognition of Covishield is a discriminatory policy. EAM has raised the issue with his UK counterpart. Certain assurances have been given to resolve the matter at the earliest.” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said this move impacts Indian citizens travelling to that country.

The External Affairs Minister has raised the issue strongly with the new UK foreign secretary. I am told that certain assurances have been given that this issue will be resolved," Shringla on Tuesday said at a press conference in New Delhi. His comments came on a day Foreign Minister S Jaishankar tweeted about discussing the matter with the British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on the sidelines of the high-level 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

Pleased to meet new UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz.

Discussed the progress of Roadmap 2030. Appreciated her contribution on the trade side.

Exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific.

Urged early resolution of quarantine issue in mutual interest. pic.twitter.com/pc49NS7zcw

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 21, 2021

Shringla also warned the UK that its citizens would face reciprocal measures over its new Covid-19 rules. "But if we don't get satisfaction we would be within our rights to impose reciprocal measures," he said. According to new rules, Indian travellers who have received both doses of the Covishield will be considered unvaccinated and will have to undergo self-isolation for 10 days. Covishield has been developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured in India by Pune-based Serum Institute of India has not been recognised by Britain under new rules despite being identical to the doses given to millions of Britons.