Even decades after Bhopal gas tragedy, the pain lingers on

Bhopal: As the Madhya Pradesh capital once again observed the anniversary of the nightmarish horrors of the 1984 gas tragedy that killed or affected thousands of people, hundreds of victims - mostly elderly women - took out a protest march on Monday and poured vitriol on the Centre and the state dispensations for turning Nelson's eye to them.

The survivors and representatives of organisations working for them expressed anger by raising anti-establishment slogans vis-a-vis non-fulfillment of promises."The Madhya Pradesh Government had assured that it would take measures to address issues such as medical and environmental rehabilitation, enhanced compensation and establishment of a special court for hearing cases against Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL). But nothing happened," Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan Convener Abdul Jabbar alleged.

Numerous survivors and campaigners held a meeting at the local Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park where tributes were paid to the deceased and a pledge was renewed to continue the struggle for drawing attention of the powers that be towards proper rehabilitation and medical support. A remonstration was staged in front of the now-closed UCIL plant and a prayer meeting conducted at Barkatullah Bhavan this morning.(UNI)