Sushma Swaraj counters Donald Trump's accusations, says India didn't sign Paris climate deal for money

Trump, while announcing US' withdrawal from the Paris climate deal last week, had said that India signed the accord to get "billions and billions and billions" of dollars.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday rubbished United States President Donald Trump's accusations on India stating that India did not sign the landmark Paris climate accord under pressure or for "greed."

Trump, while announcing the US' withdrawal from the Paris climate deal last week, had said that India signed the accord to get "billions and billions and billions" of dollars from the developed nations. The Paris Agreement, which was signed in 2015, involves nearly 200 countries with a goal to limit global warming well below two degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels.

Swaraj countered Trump's claims, saying "This is completely not true. India signed the Paris agreement not because of any pressure or out of greed. We are committed to the environment and this commitment is 5,000 years old. We worship nature. It is in Indian ethos. I clearly dismiss both accusations."

The Union Minister, however, added that despite Trump's decision to withdraw from the global climate accord, there is no change in India-US ties and that the relationship between the two countries is progressing as it did during Barack Obama's presidency. Swaraj, however, admitted that the revised US rules of the H1-B visa are still a matter of concern for India.

U.S. President Donald Trump pauses as he announces his decision that the United States will withdraw from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2017.Reuters

Swaraj made the statement while addressing the annual press conference of her ministry to highlight the achievements of the Modi government in last three years. "Around 80,000 people stranded abroad brought back to India in last three years," she added.

The External Affairs Minister also said that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has registered an increase of 37.5 percent since NDA government took over three years ago. She also said that several improvements have also been introduced in the passport facility.

"CPEC is about sovereignty. Kashmir is an integral part of India, no question of compromise," Swaraj said.

She also commented on several of the Gulf countries cutting ties with Qatar and said that India will not be impacted by it.

"There is no challenge arising out of this for us. This is an internal matter of GCC (Gulf Coordination Council). Our only concern is about Indians there. We are trying to find out if any Indians are stuck there," Swaraj told reporters.