Letters to the Honorable Prine Minister

To: The Prime Minister of India, 

Sir,

We are shocked and saddened at the utter capitulation of the Government of India to corporate interests. The June 7 verdict and the shoddy manner in which the Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted the case concerning the world's worst industrial disaster is shameful, to say the least. The failure to do anything to bring Union Carbide Corporation and Warren Anderson to India to face trial indicates that India is more responsive to the instructions of the US Government than to notions of justice and fair play towards its citizens.

India still remains the world's largest democracy. The nationwide outrage and the manner in which the outrage sent the Government scrambling is an indication that the Government should not underestimate the power of its people. Despite the passage of 26 years, or probably because of it, the wounds caused by Bhopal on our collective conscience are still raw. The casual manner in which the Prime Minister's office has been corresponding with Dow CEO Andrew Liveris, the support extended to Liveris and Dow by various Ministers and top officials is in stark contrast to the cavalier treatment extended by the Government and police towards the Bhopal survivors. It is curious that your Government has permitted sales of absconder Union Carbide's confiscable technology to Reliance, even while remaining inactive in pursuing the absconder to face trial in India.

As the Prime Minister of the country, the well-being of India's citizens is your responsibility. As the Minister in-charge of CBI, the blame for the mishandling of the criminal case lies squarely in your office. That said, there are things that you can do to undo this legal disaster and live up to the promise you made to Bhopal survivors in 2006 and 2008, and your statement to the Parliament in December 2009 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary.

1. Set up a Special Prosecution Cell to expedite the case against Warren Anderson, Union Carbide Corporation and Union Carbide Eastern by producing the foreign accused in India to face trial. 

2. Set up Empowered Commission on Bhopal to plan and execute rehabilitation schemes for survivors and their children. 

3. Blacklist Dow Chemical's business in India. 

4. Ensure that Dow Chemical and Union Carbide India Ltd pay for the clean-up of the toxic contaminated site and groundwater in Bhopal, and compensate the people affected by the contamination.

Sincerely,