India being sidelined in Paris Climate Summit: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress party on Wednesday said that India was being sidelined in the ongoing climate negotiations in the Paris Climate Summit, and added that the ruling dispensation at the Centre should step up and protect the country`s interest else the entire developmental trajectory could be frozen.

"It (Chennai rains) is the clearest evidence of the havoc, which climate change can cause. So while the government needs to bring all elements of national power together to help out the Tamil Nadu residents where unprecedented rain has unfortunately taken place, they simultaneously need to double their efforts in Paris because in the climate change negotiations there India is being sidelined," Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

"Our entire developmental trajectory can be frozen if we are isolated in this manner in Paris. So, the government needs to step up and protect India`s interest," he added.

The Congress leader`s remark comes at a time when Tamil Nadu has been affected by the worst ever flood, causing a huge loss to life and property in the entire state, especially in the capital.

Many parts of the city and the suburbs have been flooded from the incessant rains that have hit Chennai in the past 24 hours.

Describing climate change as a major global challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier in Paris said that India wants the world to work with urgency to agree on a comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement at the summit.

"Climate change is a major global challenge. But it is not of our making," Prime Minister Modi said as he inaugurated a unique India Pavilion here at the UN Climate Summit.