Kangujam Kangujam, known as Indian ‘Greta’ had staged a protest outside Parliament in July last year. Image credit: Twitter

Manipur’s climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, who rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s honour of joining the #SheInspiresUs campaign, said that she refused to accept the offer because her voice was not heard over the years.

Kangujam said she decided to turn down the offer of Prime Minister Modi since politicians never take the issue of climate change seriously.

She said that over the years politicians haven’t listened to any of her demands despite protesting continuously in front of the Parliament and many other places across the country with thousands of children and youths.

On Friday, the government in a tweet shared the story of the eight-year-old as one of the inspirations. “@mygovindia @LicypriyaK is a child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn’t she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs,” My GovIndia tweeted.

Kangujam, in response to the tweet, wrote: “Dear Narendra Modi ji, Please don’t celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turn down this honour. Jai Hind!”

Kangujam, known as Indian ‘Greta’ had staged a protest outside Parliament in July last year demanding passing a law on climate change.

Kangujam, who was conferred the Rising Star by the Washington DC-based Earth Day Network last year, made her demands clear — that the government should enact a climate law to regulate carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases.