On Bhopal gas tragedy eve, survivors' groups slam BJP over 'denial' of justice
Bhopal (PTI): On the eve of the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, four organisations representing survivors on Monday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of denying them justice and prolonging their suffering, a charge stoutly denied by the saffron party.
At least 5,479 people died and thousands were maimed for life after the highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from Union Carbide Corporation (UCC)'s pesticide unit in Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, in one of the worst industrial disasters in the world.
At a press conference marking the 41st anniversary of the disaster, the organisations released a "Bhopal Survivors' Chargesheet against the BJP" and alleged the party, currently in power in Madhya Pradesh and at the Centre, has consistently served the interests of US corporations over those of Indian citizens.
Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, said, "The BJP in the state government and at the Centre has betrayed the Bhopal gas tragedy survivors like no other political party."
"A prominent member of BJP is known to have protected Union Carbide's local management from charges of poisoning water around the factory and another prominent member wrote a legal opinion absolving Dow Chemical (the current owner of Union Carbide) of its environmental liabilities in Bhopal which was contrary to the Indian government's official opinion," she alleged.
Balkrishna Namdeo, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha, said, "Then-Union Home Minister LK Advani in 2002, directed the prosecuting agency CBI to seek dilution of criminal charges against Warren Anderson (former CEO of US firm UCC) and Union Carbide in the criminal case related to the disaster. Credit must go to the judge in the Bhopal district court who rejected CBI's application and prevented this injustice against the victims."
Commenting on rehabilitation measures, Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information & Action said, "Medical and economic rehabilitation of Bhopal survivors have been worst under the BJP rule.
"In 2008, under the Congress rule at the Centre, we were granted our demand for setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal for long-term rehabilitation (of survivors), but the then-BJP Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan stopped it. Today, the survivors are suffering in the absence of such a commission," Dhingra alleged.
Nawab Khan, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, maintained that American multinational Dow Chemical, which bought Union Carbide in 1999, continues to expand its business in India.
"Despite being legally forbidden, public sector undertakings are brazenly purchasing Union Carbide's products from Dow Chemical and the corporation is expanding its business in India like never before," Khan alleged.
However, the Madhya Pradesh BJP rejected the allegations made by the organisations.
"Our government has always treated issues concerning the Bhopal gas survivors with priority and seriousness, whether they relate to judicial matters, medical treatment or any other subject. I respectfully disagree with all the allegations levelled against the BJP," state party spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi asserted.
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How can govt move amendments to women law before notifying principal Act: Opposition in LS
New Delhi (PTI): Opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Friday questioned the government's decision to move a bill to amend the 2023 women quota law before bringing the principal Act into force.
Soon after laying of parliamentary papers, K C Venugopal rose to point out a law ministry notification issued last night around 10 pm to bring into force the 2023 women's reservation law with effect from April 16, much after a bill to amend the Act was introduced and discussed in the House.
DMK's Kanimozhi also flagged the issue, wondering the logic in discussing an amendment after notifying the principal Act.
Opposition members sought a clarification from law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal who was present in the Lok Sabha.
"The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam passed in September 2023 has come into force with being published in the Gazette only at 9.55 pm last night.
"It is shocking that the government brought amendments to a Constitutional provision that was not even published in the gazette! This shows the government’s unprepared and lackadaisical approach to serious lawmaking," Venugopal later posted on X.
He said this is also yet another evidence that the treasury benches look at the Parliament as no more than a rubber stamp, not bothered about the procedures and protocol necessary for a fair legislative process.
An official has earlier explained that bringing the law into force was essential as its proposed amendment will not have come into effect without that.
The constitution amendment Bill became a law but did not become part of the Constitution as the government did not bring it into force.
If a law does not come into force, how can its proposed amendment be implemented. Hence, it was brought into force with effect from April 16, the official explained.
