1984: Between Bhopal and Delhi

The year 1984 saw unimaginable calamities in India.  This is the story of the two most well-known.

One was caused by a callous corporation and a complicit government.  When thousands of people were exposed to horrendous toxins and poisonous gases in Bhopal, Union Carbide first denied it completely, only to later deny culpability.  The Government of India was only to happy to allow destruction to its own citizenry in the name of protecting foreign investments and corporate welfare.  Over 4,000 people lost their lives due to the complicit negligence and countless others were permanently incapacitated.

Reported today, an Indian court has found some of the corporate executives guilty.  While Union Carbide had been purchased by Dow Chemical in the interim, various activists and community members continued to fight for the guilty to be brought to justice.  8 top of executives have now been found guilty.  Details are still sketchy, but one hopes their corporate malfeasance receives the full brunt for its depravity, although activists see too little too late and a light punishment meted to these corporate terrorists.

Meanwhile, another event that saw the death of thousands of lives of lives in India occurred one month earlier.  However, this was not confined to a Bhopal backwater, but rather was on the streets of India’s capital – in full view of the press, police, army, and politicians.  When the four groups, all co-conspirators, were not actively leading the charge of the pograms, then they remained silent in their complicity.  The latest news remains the same – despite valiant attempts by victims’ lawyer, HS Phoolka, the court continues to dither and protect the known culprits.  When 4,000 Sikhs are murdered in the streets, led by government officials and their sponsored goons, they receive no solace.  It is a lesson learned by the Sikhs in 1984 and the Muslims of Gujarat in 2002.

So while we give a hug to those victims in Bhopal that may now see someone brought to justice (as small as it may be), even if it does not bring back their family members, we can only provide a shoulder of support and solidarity to those that lost their lives due to the pograms of 1984.  A callous government may provide something (even after 26 years) when the guilty are corporate, but expect nothing when the murderer is itself.


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7 Responses to “1984: Between Bhopal and Delhi”

  1. […] and poisonous gases in Bhopal, Union Carbide first denied it completely, only to later deny … See all stories on this topicRead at The Langar Hall […]

  2. To keep the readers updated on both the cases, I would wish to inform that Indian news media has revealed the Union carbide chairman was escorted in state government car to airport, then he went to Delhi using state owned airplane and left the country. Then CBI chief spoken over tv that CBI was pressurized by central government to not to apply for extradition of Mr. Anderson (chairman-UB).

    On the other hand, the culprits of anti-sikh riots are still roaming free in full-confidence. It took 26 years for govt to finalyze the charges to put on Sajjan Kumar!!!! 26 years to decide the charges!!!

    In both the cases it is crystal clear that govt is full of corrupt people and no-life-number matters for them as long as they have power in their hands and kitty in their accounts.
    "Paapi ke maane ko paap maha bali hai" i.e. The sin alone is strong enough to kill the sinner. May the day come sooner.

  3. To keep the readers updated on both the cases, I would wish to inform that Indian news media has revealed the Union carbide chairman was escorted in state government car to airport, then he went to Delhi using state owned airplane and left the country. Then CBI chief spoken over tv that CBI was pressurized by central government to not to apply for extradition of Mr. Anderson (chairman-UB).

    On the other hand, the culprits of anti-sikh riots are still roaming free in full-confidence. It took 26 years for govt to finalyze the charges to put on Sajjan Kumar!!!! 26 years to decide the charges!!!

    In both the cases it is crystal clear that govt is full of corrupt people and no-life-number matters for them as long as they have power in their hands and kitty in their accounts.
    "Paapi ke maane ko paap maha bali hai" i.e. The sin alone is strong enough to kill the sinner. May the day come sooner.

  4. iSingh says:

    Gut wrenching
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  5. iSingh says:

    Gut wrenching
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