India seeking probe into corona crisis a warning to China

First came the statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on going Swadeshi and going vocal about being local. Now comes the news that India is one of the signatories to the joint petition by Australia and European Union, calling for an independent inquiry into the WHO's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

By doing so, India has somewhat shunned its cautious approach towards China whose bullying ways are well known to the world. A draft resolution proposed for 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting has begun and it is likely that this draft or submission would find more and more supporters.

It will thus find more supporters because it is only seeking an impartial, independent and comprehensive probe into the coronavirus crisis besides an inquiry into the actions of the World health Organisation (WHO) and the timelines pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Questions galore have been raised against the WHO amid the raging pandemic that has consumed lakhs of human lives and driven many more to the hospitals devastating not just societies across the globe but also economies around the world.

The virus has pushed back the development by a few decades and a good part of the humanity from the poorer countries is now staring at a bleak future. The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the WHO.

It is attended by delegations from all WHO member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organisation, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.

The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. During health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO gathers global data and brings together evidence and expertise from the world's best scientists to offer advice and guidance to countries according to their unique situations.

In a global health crisis, the world is only as strong as its weakest health system. The WHO works to assist countries in need through offering responsible recommendations, facilitating supply chains, and delivering equipment from both the organisation and other member States.

As well as assisting individual countries, the WHO is coordinating hundreds of studies and trials underway around the world in the united search for a Covid-19 vaccine and treatment. Knowledge is power and the WHO is facilitating the sharing of knowledge in the fight against this deadly coronavirus.

Now comes the question. Why would countries appeal to it to launch a probe against its own functioning? This has been necessitated by the dubious role played by the WHO in the wake of the present crisis. Its timelines are doubtful, and its defence of China is strange.

The very fact that the present head of the WHO is acting 'favourably inclined towards China' and not fulfilling his duties and responsibilities has led to much heartburn among several countries in the world.

The anger has only multiplied against China and the WHO in the recent times because China has also started bullying nations with its economic might against any action. Why prevent a probe? Let there be one.

That India too decided to sign for it is a welcome sign and also a fresh warning to China that it is not afraid of its neighbour and its tantrums in the border being deliberately escalated nowadays.