India hits out at Kerry for terming it a 'challenge' at Paris

New Delhi, Nov 22: India on Sunday, Nov 22 hit out at US Secretary of State John Kerry for his remarks that India will be a "challenge" at the upcoming crucial Paris climate meet, saying they were "unwarranted" and made it clear that it is "not in the habit of taking any pressure from anybody".

Terming Kerry's comments as "unwarranted and unfair", India also blamed the "attitude" of some of the developed countries for the problem of climate change.

Hinting that there was no question of either compromising or making adjustments on any of the issues which the country has taken up, Environment Minister Prakash Javedekar said that it has always been on the side of consensus and is trying to "proactively" bring consensus among nations.

"It is in a way unfair to say that India will be a challenge. It is actually not doing justice with India. The US is our great friend and strategic partner. His (Kerry's) comment are unwarranted and unfair. The attitude of some of the developed countries is the challenge for the Paris conclusion," he said.

Kerry in an interview with a leading international business daily had recently warned that India could be a "challenge" at upcoming climate change talks in Paris, with its government reluctant to accept more of a role in addressing global warming.

"We've got a lot of focus on India right now to try to bring them along. India has been more cautious, a little more restrained in its embrace of this new paradigm, and it's a challenge," he was quoted as saying. Javadekar said while "there is no pressure from the developed world on India, the country is also not in the habit of taking any pressure from anybody."

The Paris Climate Conference scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 11 aims to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C.

"When you are doing a global arrangement, every country will put forth its issue. We have to take consensus along. India is always is on the side of consensus. We are proactively helping to bring consensus. We are not nay sayers but helping bring consensus.It is not about compromising," Javadekar said.

PTI