People's Democracy

PUNJAB

CITU Holds Protest Rallies against Bhopal Verdict

Asha Nand

AT the call of the Punjab state units of the CITU, workers organised rallies, gate meetings and demonstrations in Punjab and Chandigarh in protest against the anti- people court verdict delivered on June 16, 2010 regarding the Bhopal gas tragedy which took place 26 years ago, claiming the lives of over 25,000 people and causing grievous harms to the health of five lakh people. Rallies, gate meetings and demonstrations were held at Sangrur, Longowal, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Raikot, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Tapa, Batala, Pathankot, Binewal, Rajpura, Mansa, Asron, Ropar and Malerkotla. About 7,000 workers and general masses participated in these actions.

Addressing the rallies at Longowal, Tapa, Amritsar etc, CITU state president Vijay Misra and CITU state general secretary Raghunath Singh said the verdict of the court regarding the Bhopal gas tragedy was very shocking. After a period of 26 years, this decision of the court has exposed the hollowness of our judicial and legal system and its pro-ruling class character. It has also exposed how leaders of the ruling classes and the top government officials could be compelled to serve  the interests of the MNCs and the Indian corporate companies. The CITU leaders further said this decision of the court and the pro-imperialist stand  of our government would further encourage the MNCs and Indian corporate houses to violate the relevant safety norms. The speakers demanded that the government must immediately take effective and concrete steps to ensure severe punishment to the culprits including Warren Anderson, the then CMD of the Union Carbide. The CITU has also demanded that the leaders and the officials who helped the culprits must also be exposed and brought to book. It has asked for adequate compensation to the victims of this tragedy and stressed that strict implementation of safety norms must be ensured in the industrial units. The speakers announced that the CITU would continue the struggle for getting justice for the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy.