Saswat Panigrahi
Twenty-five years after lethal Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) gas leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal killed at least 25,000 people, a Bhopal court convicted the company and seven of its officials for criminal negligence and sentenced them for a mere two-year. The accused bailed out in just two hours. "Surely justice... has been done," -- Bhopal gas case judge said talking to media persons.
As rich, elite and powerful are involved in the case there was a deliberate attempt to cover-up. The investigating agencies as well as the prosecutors successfully mishandled the case and distorted the evidence with the clear instructions of those in the corridors of power. And the judiciary acted as a recording machine for those distorted evidence. Moreover, the Indian legal provisions are also inadequately codified to deal with the man-made disaster. Hence the verdict, though a shame is not a surprise at all.
Once the judgment came, skeletons began to tumble out of Congress’ closet, causing acute embarrassment to the party. Evidences are pouring in that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh acted on the directive of Rajiv Gandhi Government at the Centre to ensure a safe passage to former chairman of Union Carbide Warren Anderson in the aftermath of Bhopal gas tragedy.
BR Lall, former Joint Director of CBI, who was in charge of the investigation from April 1994 to July 1995 says CBI was told by the Ministry of External Affairs to go soft on Anderson. Declassified CIA documents of December 8, 1984, a day after Anderson was released after being arrested, shows that the Rajiv Gandhi Government bailed him out. Gordon Streeb, a former US diplomat who was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American embassy in New Delhi said Anderson was freed as part of agreement then government of India made with its US counterpart. MK Rasgotra, then Foreign Secretary confirmed that Anderson was given a “safe passage” and then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was aware of it. Then Bhopal Collector Moti Singh, has revealed that he was instructed by the then State Chief Secretary to bail out Anderson. December 7, 1984 edition of a US-based newspaper The Pittsburgh Press quoting a release from the Union Carbide saying its chief Warren Anderson was promised by then Indian Government of a safe passage.
After the Bhopal gas case verdict came a shamed Congress government quickly swung into action. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to examine all issues related to the tragedy, including remedial measures, and make appropriate recommendations on the relief and rehabilitation of the victims and their families. Within two weeks after the GoM constituted, it put together a package of relief, rehabilitation and compensation for the survivors. The rehabilitation package pegs at Rs 982 crore. As things stand, the Indian taxpayer will pay for the pollution of the multinational.
Government now says it will extradite Anderson. But despite the sound and fury, there is there is little hope that India will ever lay its hands on Warren Anderson for alleged culpability in the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Twenty-five years after lethal Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) gas leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal killed at least 25,000 people, a Bhopal court convicted the company and seven of its officials for criminal negligence and sentenced them for a mere two-year. The accused bailed out in just two hours. "Surely justice... has been done," -- Bhopal gas case judge said talking to media persons.
As rich, elite and powerful are involved in the case there was a deliberate attempt to cover-up. The investigating agencies as well as the prosecutors successfully mishandled the case and distorted the evidence with the clear instructions of those in the corridors of power. And the judiciary acted as a recording machine for those distorted evidence. Moreover, the Indian legal provisions are also inadequately codified to deal with the man-made disaster. Hence the verdict, though a shame is not a surprise at all.
Once the judgment came, skeletons began to tumble out of Congress’ closet, causing acute embarrassment to the party. Evidences are pouring in that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh acted on the directive of Rajiv Gandhi Government at the Centre to ensure a safe passage to former chairman of Union Carbide Warren Anderson in the aftermath of Bhopal gas tragedy.
BR Lall, former Joint Director of CBI, who was in charge of the investigation from April 1994 to July 1995 says CBI was told by the Ministry of External Affairs to go soft on Anderson. Declassified CIA documents of December 8, 1984, a day after Anderson was released after being arrested, shows that the Rajiv Gandhi Government bailed him out. Gordon Streeb, a former US diplomat who was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the American embassy in New Delhi said Anderson was freed as part of agreement then government of India made with its US counterpart. MK Rasgotra, then Foreign Secretary confirmed that Anderson was given a “safe passage” and then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was aware of it. Then Bhopal Collector Moti Singh, has revealed that he was instructed by the then State Chief Secretary to bail out Anderson. December 7, 1984 edition of a US-based newspaper The Pittsburgh Press quoting a release from the Union Carbide saying its chief Warren Anderson was promised by then Indian Government of a safe passage.
After the Bhopal gas case verdict came a shamed Congress government quickly swung into action. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to examine all issues related to the tragedy, including remedial measures, and make appropriate recommendations on the relief and rehabilitation of the victims and their families. Within two weeks after the GoM constituted, it put together a package of relief, rehabilitation and compensation for the survivors. The rehabilitation package pegs at Rs 982 crore. As things stand, the Indian taxpayer will pay for the pollution of the multinational.
Government now says it will extradite Anderson. But despite the sound and fury, there is there is little hope that India will ever lay its hands on Warren Anderson for alleged culpability in the Bhopal gas tragedy.
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