New Delhi: Environment conservation is a commitment and not a compulsion for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, asserting he believes development and nature can go hand-in-hand.
India strives to meet an increased portion of its power demand from renewable and alternative sources of energy, he said in a message read out at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) being organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) here.
The country is devising solutions to diverse urban challenges, particularly those related to pollution and cleanliness, through latest technology and innovation, he said.
“Extolling the Earth as Mother, our scriptures say, ‘The Earth is our Mother and we are her children’. The sentiment of universal brotherhood has constantly guided the nation and its people. With such a glorious culture and philosophy of lofty traditions of living in harmony with nature, it is only natural for India to remain at the forefront of global efforts for environment protection,” he said.
“We firmly believe that development and nature can go hand-in-hand. With the objective of making sustainable development an integral part of everyday life, we launched Mission LIFE. The objective of this Mission is to adopt a lifestyle for the environment. Environment is today not just a global cause, but also a personal as well as collective responsibility for every individual,” he said.
Modi said environment conservation is a commitment and not a compulsion for India. Human empowerment is impossible without a better environment and the way forward is through collectiveness rather than selectiveness, the prime minister said.
India’s initiative to adopt a healthier and cleaner lifestyle include upgrading infrastructure to encourage electric mobility, increased use of biofuel for transportation, leverage hydrogen as a fuel, convert waste to wealth and water treatment plants to ensure clean rivers, the prime minister said.
The country has adopted a multi-dimensional approach to chart a long-term roadmap for sustainable and environment-friendly lifestyle, be it through measures for upliftment and empowerment of the poor, or encouraging organic farming, or protecting farmers from the vagaries of nature, he said.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said India is emerging as an inspiration for countries across the globe under the leadership of PM Modi “particularly on the fact that economic development and conservation of environment can go hand in hand”.
He said the country has demonstrated that it has never been a part of the problem and is contributing significantly to become a part of the solution.
The focus on ‘green growth’ in the Union Budget validates how sustainable development has been mainstreamed in Indian policy-making process through a visionary approach, Yadav said.
Opposition leaders slam Jaishankar, point to his father’s comments on Gujarat riots
New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) Opposition leaders on Wednesday lashed out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his remarks on China and the BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with many of them pointing to his father’s reported comments against the then Gujarat dispensation following the 2002 riots.
The Congress on Wednesday called Jaishankar a “failed” minister and alleged that his remarks on the China issue have “demeaned” the valour of India’s armed forces.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also alleged that foreign policy has been reduced to photo-ops and a chest-thumping exercise and is being used to secure contracts for a businessman.
The opposition party’s attack came over the minister’s reported remarks urging people to not buy the narrative that somewhere the government is on the defensive or is being accommodative on the China issue. Jaishankar also reportedly hit out at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary on Modi and called it “politics by another means”.
Slamming Jaishankar, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sircar said, “Strange — that Jaishankar discovered his angst against the Gandhis — after serving them most loyally and taking the best of postings under them? Is it Amnesia or is he just cuddling up to BJP for his unprecedented promotion as Foreign Minister?”
In another tweet, Sircar referred to Jaishankar’s “politics by another means” remark, saying the question is whether the facts shown in the documentary are true or false.
“Could thousands of lives be saved if Modi administration was less indulgent,” Sircar said.
“S Jaishankar’s father, K Subramanyam said ‘Dharma was killed in Gujarat (2002 Riots). Those who failed to protect innocent citizens are guilty of adharma. Rama…would have used his bow against the ‘Asura’ rulers of Gujarat. Shame on son — serving Asura!” the TMC MP said in another tweet.
Shrinate also spoke of reported ‘Asura’ remarks of Jaishankar’s father K Subrahmanyam.
“You may attack anyone, but you must listen to the words of the elderly who have wisdom and experience. You should listen to your father… He may be old but has the wisdom and experience and you should listen to him,” she said.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, “So Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs currently moonlighting as Minister of Doublethink & Newspeak. Clearly seems to have forgotten his son worked for Aspen Institute funded by George Soros!”
In a series of tweets, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked if the government has nothing to hide on the China border crisis, why is it running away from a debate and discussion in Parliament?
“Why are my questions on the subject denied? Why is media not being taken there? The kind of facetious and irrelevant argument that the EAM gives on China border tells us why control over 2000 sq km of territory has been lost to China by the Modi government? He follows PM’s line of na koi ghusa hai…,” Owaisi said.
“The government has lost control of territory in Ladakh and failed to restore the status quo as it existed three years ago. Is that not the least that is expected from the government? They can’t even get China to discuss Depsang and Demchok,” he sad in another tweet.
Bluster and bluff from the external affairs minister will not solve the border crisis with China, the AIMIM chief said, adding that it needs honesty and a willingness to accept the truth.
“The minister has again shown today that the Modi government is scared of the truth, whether on 2002 Gujrat pogrom or on Ladakh crisis with China,” he said.
On Jaishankar’s reported remark that he has been the longest-serving Indian Ambassador in China, the Congress said in that capacity will he tell when the status along the Line of Actual Control will be restored to the April 2020 position.
“Why do the prime minister and you stay quiet on China? Why have we increased the trade deficit to 100 USD with China and we are almost funding the Chinese Army to do the incursions that they do”?” Shrinate said.
“As India’s longest-serving Ambassador to China what do you have to say on Chinese aggression at the border?” she asked.
She also criticised the minister for targeting the Congress-led governments over their China policy, saying, “You can keep attacking your political opponents but do not do this at the cost of our national security… some things are sacrosanct”.
The Congress spokesperson also listed several steps taken by the UPA government to strengthen border infrastructure, including sanctioning of a 50,000 strong two new mountain divisions and stationing armoured units in Ladakh and Arunachal
“Foreign policy is supposed to further the interests of this country. Foreign policy is not supposed to be a tool to manage and allocate projects from foreign countries to one business group – that is Adani,” she added.
