Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)

New Delhi, Mar 12: Jim O’Neill, the chair of UK think tank Chatham House, on Wednesday mocked India over coronavirus pandemic. Neill commended the 'fast, aggressive' approach by the Chinese to the outbreak and suggested that western countries would do well if they follow suit.

However, Neill in a scathing attack mocked the Indian governance saying, “Thank God this did not start in somewhere like India, because there is absolutely no way that the quality of Indian governance could move to react in the way that the Chinese have done,” the former Goldman Sachs chief economist, told CNBC’s 'Squawk Box Europe' on Wednesday.

“That’s the good side of the Chinese model, and I think you could probably say the same about Brazil too,” he added.

Meanwhile, reacting to the uncalled attack, Indian High Commission Minister Vishwesh Negi told CNBC Wednesday that O’Neill’s comments were 'ill-informed and irresponsible'.

Earlier, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a government meeting where he directed the officials to identify suitable locations for quarantine facilities and make provisions for critical care. At present, India has over 73 confirmed cases, of which four have recovered.

India has suspended all existing visas except for diplomatic and official UN and international organization visits until April 15 and requires all incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having recently traveled to China, Italy, Iran, Korea, France, Spain and Germany to enter a minimum 14-day quarantine.