Govt terms Axelrod as a 'spin doctor'

Government today downplayed comments by White House senior adviser David Axelrod that the Copenhagen Accord had bound India to cutting emissions and said the remarks were that of a "spin doctor" aimed at domestic consumption.

"He (Axelrod) is the spin doctor of Obama Administration. He is the Arun Jaitley of US," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha during his reply to queries raised by the members on his suo moto statement in the House on the Copenhagen summit.

Jaitley, who was present in the House, did not respond to the jibe, which the minister said he is making in a "lighter vein".

Ramesh said that Axelrod's statement was made for "domestic consumption" and to appease the unions by claiming that India and China have to abide by verifications.

CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury wondered whether the statement of Ramesh too was meant for "domestic consumption".

At this, the minister said, it was meant for "parliamentary consumption" adding that he made similar statements inside and outside the House.