Not recognising Covishield is a discriminatory policy, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said Tuesday on the United Kingdom‘s new travel policy that mandates quarantine for fully vaccinated Indians. 

“The non-recogition of Covishield is a discriminating policy and impacts our citizens travelling to the UK. The EAM 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,” ANI quoted Shringla as saying during a press conference in the New Delhi. 

Also Read | United States extends travel restrictions with Canada, Mexico

According to the UK’s new travel protocols, that will come into effect from October 4, Indians vaccinated with the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield will be considered unvaccinated and be required to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine. 

On Monday, the British High Commission said it is engaging with India to explore how validate the vaccination certificates issued by Indian authorities, PTI reported. 

“The UK is committed to opening up international travel again as soon as is practicable and this announcement is a further step to enable people to travel more freely again, in a safe and sustainable way, while protecting public health,” a spokesperson said. 

“We are engaging with the Government of India to explore how we could expand the UK recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India.”

Also Read | Fully vaccinated, negative COVID report: US eases travel restrictions

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has urged for an “early resolution” of the quarantine issue in a meeting with the newly-appointed British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss in New York.

Jaishankar arrived in New York to take part in the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Earlier, Former Union ministers and Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Anand Sharma and Shashi Tharoor slammed the UK’s new travel rules. Ramesh said the protocols “smacks of racism”, while Tharoor called them “offensive”. 

Sharma said the UK government’s decision of not recognising fully vaccinated Indians is “discriminatory, racist and deserves strongest condemnation”.