Ramesh cuts short visit, climate meet wrapped up a day early

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has cut short his visit to Cape Town for climate talks to ensure that he is present in Parliament during the passing of finance bill following which Ministers of BASIC group have wrapped up their talks a day early.

"The Minister has left for Delhi after holding a meet with the BASIC members (Brazil, India, China and South Africa) on climate change in Cape Town on April 25," Ramesh's aide said. He will be present in Parliament when the cut-motion is moved by the BJP over price rise tomorrow.

The BASIC meeting was slated to be held on April 25 and 26 but it was shortened by a day after Ramesh cited his inability to attend it on the second day due to political reasons, the aide said.

Ramesh's decision came after the Congress asked its ministers to put on hold their foreign travel plans till May 29 when the finance bill is due to be passed.

With India being viewed as an important member of the group, the other Environment Ministers agreed to wrap up the meet by April 25 itself and have issued a joint statement on the third BASIC meeting on the climate change.

This is the second ministerial meeting among the BASIC group to chalk out their strategy in the runup to the Cancun climate meet in Mexico this year-end. The first was held in January this year after Copenhagen meet in December.