Arjun Singh govt facilitated Anderson's exit: Kailash Joshi

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kailash Joshi today alleged that the Arjun Singh government in the state facilitated exit of Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson and other accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy.

"A social organisation run by Arjun Singh got donation from the Union Carbide as the money was required for elections after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi," Joshi (BJP) said during the debate on Bhopal gas tragedy, triggering a clash with Congress.

Congress members vociferously objected to the remarks against Singh, who is a member of Rajya Sabha, and demanded that the comments be expunged.

Francisco Sardinha, who was in the Chair, asked Joshi not to make any allegations, but did not give any ruling on the demand expunging of the remarks.

Joshi said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had framed charges against eight persons including Anderson and all of them got bail.

Objecting to the remarks, Sandeep Dikshit (Cong) said, "How can you say without proof? You should not take the name of a person who is not a member of this House."

To this, Joshi said, "I have the proof and the same can be provided to you. The person heading the social organisation had admitted publicly that they had got donation from the Union Carbide."

Another Congress member Jagdambika Pal asked, "Why did you
not do anything when your party was in power in the state?"

Joshi demanded that Anderson's extradition should be expedited and he should be brought to books.

He also demanded disbanding of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital Trust headed by former chief justice AM Ahmadi.

Last month the Supreme Court had accepted resignation of Ahmadi as chairman of the Trust.

The court had also accepted the Centre's application to take over the hospital set up for the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy.

Joshi demanded compensation of Rs10 lakh for the dead, Rs5 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs2 lakh for other affected people.

He said a number of persons who had died or were affected
due to the tragedy was much higher than estimated and demanded to probe by a joint parliamentary committee.

Basudeb Acharia CPI-M), Sher Singh Gubaya (SAD) and Prabodh Panda (CPI) also participated in the debate.