India rejects Trump’s allegation on Paris climate ‘billions’

India on Monday firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s allegation that it signed the Paris climate accord for financial gain.

“What Trump said is not the reality. We have signed the Paris accord not under any pressure nor for any money… to say we did it for money, I totally reject that,” Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the media in the nations capital.

Mr. Trump had on Thursday named India among key reasons for his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement, saying that New Delhi will be paid billions of dollars to meet its commitment to combat climate change in the landmark deal struck to cut greenhouse gases and save the planet.

“India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020. Think of it. India can double their coal production. We’re supposed to get rid of ours,” Mr. Trump said.

However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to solar power has been commended by world powers.

Mr. Modi said that India will contribute half the world’s solar energy by 2020.