April 25, 2024 05:23 (IST)
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Greenpeace meets Javadekar on India's position on climate negotiations
New Delhi, Nov 10 (IBNS): Greenpeace International's Executive director, Kumi Naidoo and his Indian counterpart, Samit Aich met with Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on Monday to discuss the role civil society will play in the climate negotiations in Lima and Paris.
This is the first interaction between Greenpeace and the government after its foreign funds were blocked following the leak of two Intelligence Bureau (IB) reports in June is this year.
“I had come to India hoping for a constructive conversation with the government about what Greenpeace stands for, how it works, the beneficial impact it has had on India and the need for a healthy and vibrant civil society in any democracy. Greenpeace’s work to protect the environment that millions of Indians depend on will continue, and we hope that the government stops considering this ‘against national interest’,” said Kumi Naidoo.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has filed an affidavit in the Delhi High Court, justifying blocking Greenpeace India’s access to foreign funds on the dubious pretext that the NGO is involved in activities “adversely impacting national interests.”
Naidoo and Aich have also written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking an appointment.
“We stressed upon the need to include civil society in informing India’s position on key climate issues. Mr Javadekar acknowledged our role and proposed to invite us for upcoming civil society consultations that the minister plans to conduct before climate talks at Lima in Peru,” said Samit Aich, Executive Director of Greenpeace India.
Naidoo is in India for a UN conference. His visit has also given him the opportunity to understand the clampdown on the civil society by the government.
While addressing a press conference with other members of civil society on Friday, Naidoo and Aich had made a public appeal to the Indian Government including Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting to clarify Greenpeace India’s campaigns and share their concerns about the curbs that the environmental watch dog is facing in the country.
Greenpeace India’s legal case against the MHA for blocking of funds comes up for hearing in the Delhi High Court in January 2015.
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