Bhopal Gas tragedy: CPI-M demands Dow Chemicals to take liability

BHOPAL - Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Friday demanded that the indicted American company Union Carbide, which was bought over by Dow Chemicals, should own up the responsibility and bear all the expenses for the 1984 Bhopal gas leak tragedy.

Karat said it is unfortunate that even after nearly 25 years, the victims and their families have not been given due justice.

“To save themselves Union Carbide merged with Dow Chemicals. Dow Chemical is the world’s biggest chemical company producing various lethal and toxic chemicals. That company says that we have (it has) no responsibility for Bhopal catastrophe,” said Karat.

Karat also mentioned that Union Carbide should bear all the expenses of the disaster and the Central Government should demand money for settling all the liabilities.

“Whether it is the question of increasing compensation or clean up of Union Carbide factory, question of environmental cleansing, Union Carbide will have to bear all the cost,” he added.

Karat further said the business of Dow chemicals, which runs eight companies in India, should be scrapped till the renewed compensation and other aftermath expenses are paid up by the company.

The four main organizations Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Children Against Dow Carbide came out in support of Karat’s initiative to launch the campaign in order to make their voices heard.

Union Carbide settled its liabilities to the Central Government in 1989 by paying 470 dollar million before being bought by another US company, Dow Chemical.

A criminal case is pending against former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson and an arrest warrant has been issued against him with regard to the tragedy. (ANI)