London: Bajaj Group Chairman Rahul Bajaj mounted a scathing criticism of France over its protectionist position in world trade talks just as the country took over the presidency of the European Union.

In an address to an influential forum of British business, Bajaj also held the position of France - and the US - responsible for India’s reluctance to introduce any further liberalisation of its economy, particularly in the financial services sector.

"The developed world should see that growth in India and China is good for the world. But I find what is happening in the WTO (World Trade Organization) negotiations on agriculture - particularly (the positions of) the US and France - is shameful," Bajaj told a meeting of businessmen and bankers in London Wednesday.

"There are 600 million Indian farmers who live on agriculture, for whom it is an absolute livelihood situation. There are a few hundred thousand in France, and two million in the US, whose lives are obviously more important - or so it looks like to us," Bajaj said at the meeting organised by the Commonwealth Business Council at the Institute of Directors.

Calling Britain “the best of the lot" among rich nations, Bajaj said it was the position of France and the US in both the agricultural and manufacturing sector negotiations at the WTO which was responsible for lack of progress in India’s economic reforms agenda.

The position of the developed world - France is a major supporter of increased agricultural subsidies - at the WTO, he said, "is making it difficult for politicians in India to open up".