CPI(M) slams move to ratify Paris pact, says Centre betrayed assurance to Parliament

The CPI(M) has denounced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that India would ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, calling it “surprising” as it violated the assurance the Centre had given to Parliament.

The party’s Politburo said the Centre had told Parliament soon after the Paris summit that India would not ratify the pact until national laws relating to environment, forests and energy are examined in the light of their capacity to implement the various provisions of the global treaty.

“Further, at the recent G20 Summit India had turned down the suggestion that it shall ratify the Paris Agreement,” the statement reminded the Centre.

Noting that the European Union and many developed nations, who are much bigger sources of carbon emissions, have not yet ratified this agreement, the CPI(M) said at the Seoul NSG meeting that India had linked its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group to the ratification of the Paris Agreement.

“Earlier in June, after the Obama-Modi meeting, the Foreign Secretary had informed the media that the process of examining India’s national laws was under way and until that is completed there is no question of ratifying this agreement. Likewise the recently Niti Ayog head had said that India is not yet ready in terms of domestic actions and hence could not ratify this agreement immediately,” the statement added.

The party added that Modi’s announcement is a clear indication that India is becoming a supplicant of US global strategic interests and had committed this volte face surrendering to US pressure, bartering away India’s much needed energy requirements.

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