By IANS,
Bhopal: As the sun went down on Bhopal Wednesday, victims of the gas tragedy set out on a torch light rally from one landmark, Bhopal Talkies, to another unfortunate landmark – the now defunct Union Carbide factory.
The procession was taken out by the Bhopal Group of Information and Action (BGIA) – working for victims of the gas disaster that occurred at the factory exactly 25 years ago – and groups affiliated to it.
“People living next to the Union Carbide factory – where the ground water is contaminated by poison from the hazardous chemical waste of the factory – will also join the march while the children who were poisoned by contaminated ground water form a prominent part of the rally,” said Rachna Dhingra of the BGIA.
Another torch light profession was taken out separately by Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udhyog Sangathan (BGPMUS) led by activist Abdul Jabbar.
“Since Mashaal (torch) means Jaagte Raho (keep awake), our procession is aimed at appealing to the people to beware of the designs of various governments who are soft on Union Carbide, which has taken the lives of thousands of people and even now people are still dying,” Jabbar said.
The organisations condemned the union government for its alleged failure to take action on the non-bailable arrest warrant issued in July this year against Warren Anderson, former chairman of Union Carbide.
The survivors have also been demanding immediate setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal gas tragedy for long-term medical care, economic and social rehabilitation and supply of safe drinking water, besides cleaning up of the hazardous waste.
They said that 15 months have passed since the prime minister gave a written promise regarding setting up the commission, but it has not yet been formed.
“The problems that we faced at the time of the gas tragedy are nothing in comparison to what we are facing now. The government is not providing us with proper medicines. We don’t have money to get ourselves treated by private doctors. The situation is just worsening now,” said Sayyed Irfan, a victim of the gas tragedy.
Thousands of tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) spewed out of the Union Carbide factory on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing over 3,500 people instantly and maiming several thousands for life.