Political will required to prosecute Anderson
New Delhi: A day after the verdict in Bhopal gas tragedy the question that is being raised is did the Indian government protect former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson and ensure that he did not have to face trial in India in the worst industrial disaster the world has ever seen.
A former CBI joint director and in-charge of investigation into the Bhopal gas leak case, BR Lall, on Tuesday told CNN-IBN that the Ministry of External Affairs asked the CBI not to push for Anderson's extradition. "We received a missive from External Affairs Ministry that the extradition proceeding should not be pursued," claimed Lall. Lall's allegation has confirmed the worst fears of Bhopal gas victims that it was their own government which denied justice to them.
He said that that he received a written communication from the Central Government in 1994-95, to not press for Anderson's extradition. The allegation has evoked strong reactions from the Government.
"An investigation officer has got his own power. He should not worry about interference from others. I hold him responsible, I hold him culpable," said Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily.
The then minister of state of external affairs Salman Khurshid, too, has challenged Lall's allegations.
"The MEA does not give instructions to CBI. These are matters on which I don't think the MEA has any role," said Khurshid.
The Opposition is up in arms and is demanding an enquiry into the issue.
"That was known even in earlier days when the tragedy had occurred and Anderson was given bail. His passport was not impounded and he was allowed to go abroad. It showed even at that time that the government was not interested in prosecuting him," alleged senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
Anderson is believed to be in the United States at the moment and even as the Indian government insists that he can still be brought back to face trial.
"Under the law he can be tried and he can be procured. Case is not closed as far as Anderson is concerned," added Moily.
But the US government has made it clear that Anderson will not be extradited.
"That was one of the greatest industrial accidents in the history and I hope this verdict helps bring some closure to the victims. Extradition, as a matter of policy, we don't discuss extradition so I can't comment on that," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said.
Legally speaking Anderson can still face trial in an Indian court, but that would require the same kind of political will as was displayed in the case of access to David Coleman Headley. The question is will the Congress-led UPA Government stand up for the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster or will justice forever denied to the Bhopal victims?
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