As Bhopal remembers 1984 disaster, activists decry government apathy

BHOPAL: As the city today marked 28th anniversary of Union Carbide gas leak disaster, which claimed at least over 3,000 lives in its immediate aftermath, activists alleged the victims have got a raw deal from both the Centre and BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.

Even after 28 years, no one had been punished for this man-made disaster and victims got only inadequate compensation, `Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sanghthan' convenor Abdul Jabbar said here.

Rallies were held in the city by the organisations working for the victims, to protest the government's "perennial inaction".

Jabbar said state and the Centre were trying to protect multi-national companies. "It is because of this attitude that the then Chief Executive Officer of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson, has not been brought to India so far to face trial."

The programmes to mark the anniversary of the worst industrial disaster in the world started with an all-religion prayer meeting to remember the victims, an annual tradition.

Members of the Sangthan marched to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence to submit a memorandum about long-pending demands, including adequate compensation and speedy trials. They were stopped by police near Kamla Park.

On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, killing over 3,000 people and maiming many others.