The Indian Government and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984

By Madan G Singh

Many learned people are of the view that the Indian political leadership has very little interest in the common man's welfare and more interested in perpetuating a dynastic rule with all its trappings of power and riches. For such a leadership to do anything to further the cause of the Indian nation as a world power is something that can be put on the back burner. Couple this with a lack of feeling for the common man and one can wonder where India is heading.

A case in point is the Bhopal gas tragedy. As we are all aware the Union Carbide plant at Bhopal released by a mechanical error, thousands of liters of toxic gas. This released gas enveloped a part of the poor quarter of the city and resulted in the death of nearly 20,000 residents. This was in 1984.In addition more than a hundred thousand were affected by the gas in other ways and were maimed for ever.

The chief of Union Carbide K Anderson landed at Bhopal replete with gas mask after the tragedy. He was arrested but promptly released on orders of the then Government. For the record the Prime Minister was the late Rajiv Gandhi and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister was Arjun Singh - a known wheeler dealer in politics. Not only was Anderson released but he was given a government plane to fly him to Delhi and then allowed to fly back to the USA

The trial court started hearing the case against the accused Indians under section 302 of the IPC (charge of murder). But the Supreme Court in a later judgment watered down the charges against all accused to 304 IPC which is causing grievous hurt and the maximum punishment is only 2 years rigorous imprisonment. The Supreme Court judges who gave this verdict including Justice AM Ahmadi all got proper thank you notes and were well rehabilitated after they retired.

The trial court has now sentenced the Indian accused to 2 years rigorous imprisonment, but it is unlikely that they will go to jail as they were immediately granted bail and the matter has gone in appeal to the higher court. This process may another 10 years and by then all the accused would have lived a full life and gone to their abodes in heaven or hell.

But what is matter of deep sorrow is that the compensation given to the victims of the Bhopal tragedy is only $470 million. The trial court has added a fine of Rs 500,000. This is in real terms a pittance. Compare this with the US administration under Obama demanding $1.5 billion for the 11 Americans killed in a blow out on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico from BP. This shows the commitment of Obama and the US administration to their nation.

In India's case the compensation works out to just $200 per head. Where do we go from here? This is a question almost every one is asking. Perhaps as the great Chanakaya said people get the government they deserve. Is that the answer?

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