Bhopal Survivors Accuse BJP of Denial of Justice on 41st Tragedy Anniversary
December 1, 2025
On the eve of the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, four survivor organisations accused the BJP of denying them justice and prolonging their pain. The disaster killed at least 5,479 people and injured thousands when toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked from the Union Carbide plant on December 2-3, 1984.
At a press conference on December 1, 2025, the groups released a "Bhopal Survivors' Chargesheet against the BJP." They said the BJP, ruling Madhya Pradesh and India, has protected US corporations over Indian citizens.
Rashida Bee, leader of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, said, "The BJP in the State government and at the Centre has betrayed the Bhopal gas tragedy survivors like no other political party." She added a BJP member shielded Union Carbide’s local management and another wrote legal opinions clearing Dow Chemical of environmental blame.
Balkrishna Namdeo, head of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha, said the former Union Home Minister L.K. Advani ordered the CBI in 2002 to dilute charges against Union Carbide and its CEO Warren Anderson. However, the judge stopped this injustice.
Rachna Dhingra from the Bhopal Group for Information & Action criticised BJP’s poor medical and economic rehabilitation efforts. She noted that a 2008 plan for long-term survivor support was halted by then BJP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Nawab Khan of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said Dow Chemical, which acquired Union Carbide in 1999, is still growing in India. Public sector units buying Dow products continue despite legal bans.
The Madhya Pradesh BJP rejected all accusations. State spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said, "Our government has always treated issues concerning the Bhopal gas survivors with priority and seriousness. I respectfully disagree with all the allegations levelled against the BJP."
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Tags:
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Bjp
Survivors
Dow Chemical
Madhya pradesh
Industrial Disaster
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