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"Today, Dow Chemicals is trying to influence the highest offices in the country - bargaining for immunity in return for investments," D Raja said in the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha.
He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the survivors of the December 1984 gas tragedy that he would do everything within law to hold Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals accountable.
"In these two years of unkept promises, more than 720 people have died because of gas related illnesses," he said, adding several children have been born with grotesque deformities.
Raja alleged that by "manipulating" officials in the Agriculture Ministry, Dow Chemicals has managed to get registered three pesticides in India, one of which is banned in the US.
"Dursban, one of the three pesticides, is proven dangerous to children. It cannot be sold for home or garden use in the US but it is freely available in India," he said. Raja was supported by his Left party colleagues and SP.
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Rating"... documents with TOI show that the PMO, backed by finance and industry ministers and the vice chairman of the Planning Commission are trying to find ways to clear Dow Chemicals of any legal liability, so that the company agrees to invest in India." .......... A similar scam has been that of the Enron / Dabhol power plant, in which there is every reason to suspect that politicians of diverse denominations had taken bribes for favouring Enron. There were also reports of US government's attempts to bully the Indian government into supporting Enron. It may be pointed out that Dow Chemicals is a virtual partner of the US government in its alleged war against cocaine in Colombia and neighbouring South American states, and there have been serious accusations that the activities of the US govt and its assisting chemical companies (Dow, Monsanto) have caused huge ecological and environmental damage and loss of human lives in the area.
It has been said that the first Bhopal tragedy was followed by a second one: "...the terrible 1989 settlement under which most victims received less than Rs7,000 each for grave injuries and a lifetime of suffering..." [”Prevent a third Bhopal tragedy"; Live Mint, Apr 2 2008; by Praful Bidwai]. Dow Chemicals' proposed new venture - which is the subject of the MoU the details of which are being sought - is considered by many as a would-be Third Bhopal Tragedy. .......... In this context, I would remind readers of another news report (Times of India; by Nitin Sethi; 30 Jun 2007) "Govt tries to cleanse Dow investment of Bhopal stain", in which it is said: "In a bid to clear Dow Chemicals, the American giant that took over Union Carbide in 2001, of civil liabilities in the Bhopal gas tragedy - said to be the worst industrial disaster in the world - the Centre is making a concerted effort for an out-of-court settlement with it.
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