Court verdict incomplete without trying Anderson

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat agreed. “If the justice system is so weak, as proven by this verdict, then it is horrifying to think what will happen if there is a nuclear accident,” she said. Probe infirmities in CBI, says Brinda The government should look into the infirmities in the CBI which led to such a diluted verdict, and appeal in the higher court, she added.

CPI (M) Madhya Pradesh State Secretary Saroj Badal said that the accused had been prosecuted with light sections of IPC and the CBI has failed to bring the foreign accused Warren Anderson - former Chairman of Union Carbide Corporationm, USA and two others - UCC, USA and Union Carbide Eastern, Hong Kong to face the trial. Badal said that the Centre had budged under the US pressure in dealing with the foreign accused.

CPI National Secretary D Raja said that the Prime Minister should take responsibility for the “failure” of the CBI to bring to justice the foreigners accused in the case. 

Bhopal Gas Case Verdict

 The Bhopal Gas case verdict, which after twenty-five years awards a sentence of just two years to the culprits, is a travesty of justice that shames India and insults the memory of the thousands killed. The verdict is the culmination of a deeply flawed process involving the culpability of Governments, investigative agencies and even the highest court of the land. These institutions compromised the interests of the country and the victims, diluting the charges, enabling the American CEO Warren Anderson to escape, and limiting liability to a paltry compensation of only 470 million dollars. These are acts of connivance to help the powerful US company and its Indian entity. 

The culprits are now all out on bail and will use the judicial process further to avoid serving even this inadequate sentence. The Government must immediately appeal against the verdict, press for enhancement of sentences and create a process by which justice can be speedily ensured. 

The Bhopal disaster and the utterly flawed legal framework shows how the American suppliers and owners have escaped any criminal liability. In this context the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill which excludes foreign suppliers from any liability may help more Warren Andersons. The Bill limits compensation to even less than the paltry Bhopal settlement. Pushing ahead with the Nuclear Liability Bill means playing with the safety and interests of the Indian people.