Bhopal: Survivors accuse Modi govt of shielding culprit

Bhopal: Survivors accuse Modi govt of shielding culprit

Staff ReporterUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 04:17 AM IST
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Accusing the government of persistent apathy and inaction, hundreds of the survivors of the world’s worst Industrial disaster took to streets on Monday to mark the 34th anniversary of Bhopal Gas tragedy. The Gas victims slammed the Narendra Modi government for protecting the culprits and tacitly supporting them.

Seeking justice, the victims took out protest march against government inaction, held public meetings and burnt effigies of Union Carbide. Even after over three decades, survivors continue to fight for proper rehabilitation and adequate compensation besides proper medical treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak, said the representatives of the NGOs fighting for their cause.

Accusing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting the US Corporation responsible for the disaster, the gas victims decried their central government put their wellbeing at stake by shielding the culprits. Demanding justice, NGOs led by Bhopal Group for Information and Action took our processions in the city and torched effigies of Union Carbide and its two frontal companies Dow – DuPont.

Thousands of people were killed after methyl isocyanate leaked on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) in the city. More than five lakh people were affected due to the toxic leak.

Till date lakhs remain severely disabled suffering from debilitating conditions like lung cancer, kidney and liver failure and eye disorders. Various organisations fighting for gas leak survivors have been seeking proper medical care, adequate compensation and cleaning of the groundwater and soil which became contaminated after the incident.

Sati Nath Sadangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action, accused the Modi led NDA government of protecting the best interests of the American corporations over the legal rights of the victims.  “PM Modi did not take any step to check the possibility of the US Corporation escaping criminal liability for the disaster forever through trifurcation. Once the Union Carbide disappears, it would not be possible for Government of India to try it in court for compensation and penalty for environmental and health injuries.

We will fight for it,” exclaimed Sadangi. Bhopal Sahyog Trust’s Sadhna Karnik said, “Still 5.75 lakh gas victims are deprived off proper compensation and medical facilities. We are demanding Rs 30 lakh compensation to each and every gas victim.” The victims were living in highly pathetic condition and the indifferent government was shutting down gas departments, and other units to dilute the issue, alleged Karnik.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogi Sangharsh Morcha (BGPNPSM) torched the effigies of MNCs at Neelam Park in Bhopal. They also pointed out that the Indian Government’s ‘curative petition’ which aims to address the inadequacies of that settlement is itself projecting too small a number to reflect the real deaths and injured tally.

‘Run Bhopal Run’ added insult to injury
A section of gas victims, termed the presence of bollywood actors Karina Kapoor and Tiger Shroff in ‘Run Bhopal Run’ event on December 2 as an insult to survivors. Abdul Jabbar, head of Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Saghathan (BGPMUS), said, “Presence of bollywood actors in ‘Run Bhopal Run’ was a tactic to divert attention from Bhopal Gas tragedy. It was to add insult to the injuries.

Gas victims are still deprived of proper medical facilities and rehabilitation.” Gradually government is shutting down the hospitals, department, which is a cause of concern as thousands continue to duffer the ill effects of the gas, but we would continue to fight for them and seek justice, he added.

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