Greenpeace asks Modi to challenge Obama on climate change

Asks PM to raise concerns over US' plans for offshore drilling in the deep seas of the Arctic

In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Greenpeace International and its India office has asked him to urge President Barack Obama to reconsider US' case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against India's solar policy, which puts domestic content restrictions. The prime minister is currently visiting the US.

The letter asked Modi to raise concerns over US' plans for offshore drilling in the deep seas of the Arctic. Greenpeace heads also asked the PM to tell Obama to discontinue subsidies to fossil fuels.

The joint letter says, "We congratulate you on setting new and ambitious renewable energy targets for India, and urge a focus on decentralised renewable energy as the fastest, most cost-effective way to tackle India's energy poverty challenge."

At the same time, the two heads of Greenpeace have highlighted the government's actions against the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) in India. "In the same spirit of constructive cooperation, may we also ask you to take note of the campaign of intimidation that the Indian ministry of home affairs (MHA) is currently engaged in against Greenpeace India and other legitimate NGOs."

The letter from the two heads came on the same day as a press release from the NGO's India office informing media that the bank account receiving domestic donations has been frozen again by the government. Greenpeace India said, "Greenpeace has just learnt that one of its bank accounts has been frozen again, in violation of the stay granted by the Madras High Court; the court had ordered an eight-week stay on the MHA's earlier decision to cancel Greenpeace FCRA licence."

The release added, "Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to address world leaders at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development, MHA launched its latest assault on Greenpeace India."

The release also said, "The bank account that has been targeted this time is the one that receives donations from thousands of our Indian supporters. This action of the ministry is against our constitutional right to free speech and association."

The Indian arm's interim head was quoted as saying, "India enjoys a fine reputation as the world's largest, most vibrant democracy. But the actions of the MHA have already placed this reputation under threat, as voices of dissent are being methodically crushed." In the joint letter by Greenpeace US and the Indian arm, the organisations' respective heads said the actions of the home ministry had tarnished India's standing in the international community.

It also added, "At a time when we need to focus instead on the imperatives of the environmental issues facing us all, these actions serve merely as a distraction, and raise serious questions about your government's commitment to democracy and to addressing environmental issues."