[ad_1]
NEW DELHI: Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat said Friday that it was inappropriate to conclude that the coronavirus is the result of biological warfare and that it was necessary to wait to find the answer to its origin.
He made the comments while answering a question on the subject at a press conference in the presence of the three chiefs of service.
“It is not appropriate to conclude that the new coronavirus outbreak is the result of biological warfare. Everyone is trying to find the answer,” said the Chief of Defense Staff.
United States President Donald Trump previously said the deadly virus originated from a virology laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan before spreading around the world, claiming more than 2.33,000 lives and destroying global economies.
But Trump’s comments undermined a rare public statement from his own intelligence community, which claimed they had not made such an assessment if the Covid-19 outbreak started through contact with infected animals or was the result of an accident in a laboratory in Wuhan.
Since the virus outbreak came to light in Wuhan in December, there has been speculation about whether the viral strain originated from China’s main Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) or its nearby Huanan seafood market. The United States has launched an investigation into whether the deadly virus “escaped” from WIV.
China has vigorously rejected the allegations.
On whether India was seeking an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus amid China’s guilty accusations, government sources said: “India is focusing on fighting the pandemic at this point. We can always re-examine this question one once this pandemic has passed. ”
In his interaction with the media, Gen Rawat expressed his confidence that India will soon be able to present a vaccine against the virus.
“We are very confident in the capabilities of our scientists,” he said.
General Rawat held the press conference to announce that the Indian Armed Forces will conduct overflights, light ships at sea and play military gangs on Sunday to show gratitude to thousands of people including doctors and paramedics involved in the country’s fight against the pandemic.
[ad_2]
He made the comments while answering a question on the subject at a press conference in the presence of the three chiefs of service.
“It is not appropriate to conclude that the new coronavirus outbreak is the result of biological warfare. Everyone is trying to find the answer,” said the Chief of Defense Staff.
United States President Donald Trump previously said the deadly virus originated from a virology laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan before spreading around the world, claiming more than 2.33,000 lives and destroying global economies.
But Trump’s comments undermined a rare public statement from his own intelligence community, which claimed they had not made such an assessment if the Covid-19 outbreak started through contact with infected animals or was the result of an accident in a laboratory in Wuhan.
Since the virus outbreak came to light in Wuhan in December, there has been speculation about whether the viral strain originated from China’s main Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) or its nearby Huanan seafood market. The United States has launched an investigation into whether the deadly virus “escaped” from WIV.
China has vigorously rejected the allegations.
On whether India was seeking an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus amid China’s guilty accusations, government sources said: “India is focusing on fighting the pandemic at this point. We can always re-examine this question one once this pandemic has passed. ”
In his interaction with the media, Gen Rawat expressed his confidence that India will soon be able to present a vaccine against the virus.
“We are very confident in the capabilities of our scientists,” he said.
General Rawat held the press conference to announce that the Indian Armed Forces will conduct overflights, light ships at sea and play military gangs on Sunday to show gratitude to thousands of people including doctors and paramedics involved in the country’s fight against the pandemic.
