Why didn't Obama visit Bhopal gas tragedy victims, asks Madhya Pradesh govt

Voicing disappointment over the silence of President Barack Obama on the plight of Bhopal gas tragedy victims, the Madhya Pradesh government today demanded that the US consider renewed demands for compensation and ensure cleaning of chemical waste at the site.

A letter listing the demands and a request to Obama to meet the victims of the 1984 gas tragedy has been sent by the state government to Union home minister and chairman of the group of ministers on the Bhopal Gas incident P Chidambaram on November 5, state minister Babaulal Gaur told reporters here.

"If President Obama can pay his tributes to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack and stay at the Taj hotel in Mumbai which was attacked by the terrorists in 2008, he should have also come and met the families of the Bhopal Gas tragedy and expressed his solidarity with them," the Madhya Pradesh minister for Bhopal gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation department said.

"If Obama would have come to Bhopal in a humanitarian gesture, he would have known the feelings of the victims and residents of Bhopal," Gaur said.

A similar letter has been handed over to governor Rameshwar Thakur who will also be present during the ceremonial banquet to be held for Obama by the president.

"Compensation for Bhopal Gas victims needs to be secured on par with those in cases of grave industrial disasters in America. It is notable here that recently in an accident involving British Petroleum Corporation, the yardstcik for compensation granted by the American company to the British citizens was a lot different.

"An initiative is called for in applying the same yardstick in respect of compensation for the Bhopal Gas victims too. Complete responsibility for disposal of chemical waste and sanitisation of Union Carbide factory premises in Bhopal city must rest with the Union Carbide Corporation or its successor company, Dow Chemical," the letter said.