when the british Auditor General reported certain irregularities in defence deal with the Saudi's, Suadi govt promptly responded by calling for withdrawal of contract and closure of ties. The matter got buried then and there.Our response is evasive because our hands are tainted.

This money will be taken from our – the Indian taxpayers' – pocket and given to the Bhopal victims

What a pathetic article , dude you should understand instead of paying the money to ministers for living there lavish lives this will be given to people who really need this help.

what will you do if a earthquake or a flood comes, shouldn't the government be using the money and resources to save people,
I have seen an felt that proper compensation and help from the government has not been given to the victim families,
It is responsibilty of government to help them as they have appovred the US coporation to set up the plant.

Hanging Anderson will not bring the thousand of lives which are already gone.

Nothing to say....Hats off to the Congress government for making people a big fools....

I sometimes wonder if the GoM is filled with mentally retarded people as ministers. They are either mentally incapable of thinking about the outcomes - or just don't give a damn about the common man. US ministers say that the recent verdict should help in bringing some closure to the victims' kin. Wonder if a similar outcome in the recent BP oil spill fiasco would invite the same reactions from the so called "developed" nations. As far as Bhopal is concerned - I too do not agree to pay any money to the victims.

Agreed 101%. UC or DOW should pay for all the costs and not indian tax payers...Indian politicians go get some guts...i dont wish but i feel that Mr Chidambaram would have taken a different stand if one of the victims would have belong to his family....Mr Minister please consider Humanity before Economics....

This is how the tax payers money has always been treated. Or else, how do you explain Mayawati spending crores in self glorification and many other countless instances where this precious resource has been wasted. In this case, it is at least going to the people who need this money.What happens to Warren Anderson has no relevance to the need of the affected families who need our help

This simply shows how strong is the nexus between politicians, judiciary and US corporates.

I agree with you. This is an outrage.

To quote the BP Chairman - We are not Big people, not big hearted enough to claim justice. we are a breed to tolerance & ignorance. The stark contrast which how the US deals with a egological disaster and how we indians deal with our dead is evidence enough of our size & weight.

Whole episode of Bhopal gas tragedy is shameful and most humiliating experience for INDIA. Congress Govt. at the Centre and State had been the most corrupt.To cover up the Nehru Gandhi family it has shifted blame on PV NarsimhaRao who is dead. This family need to be prosecuted for all the crimes they commited and since money can not be recoverd from them they should be banned from politics and put behind bars. Govt need to approch the International Forums to compel the UCC/DOW to compnsate the poor victims of Bhopal.

"From the people, to the People" - this is what democracy stands for!! So, what's wrong?
Moreover, "we" sorely needs Foreign Investment. "We" can not make them angry. And this "we" does not include "those" 26000 and the likes.
Moreover, if you have any problem, Mr. Saxena - Go to Janter-Manter.

Agreed with the spirit of the article. But the comments are bothersome...It is precisely our penchant for blaming this as a "congress betrayal", or "protection of Gandhis" etc, that is always getting us into trouble. That is what is dividing us and taking our focus away from the problem at hand. Why do we Indians just resort to name calling when we have to solve a problem? Why don't we understand that pressure needs to be applied on the government to bring justice and it does not matter who is in the Government. It is our government and we need to fight it when they don't do their job. It does not matter which party it is...

great article!!

India is said to be a Democratic country but the common man is being tamed by these curropt politicians! I have sympathy for the victims of this catastrophic event but i completely agree with this artical. Why dont our curropt politicians give their sallary for a month & all those who have been found guilty of curroption charges? The govt. is making life more miserable for the common man, I would rather support the belief of US & EU countries rather than such hopless govt!

Thanks to Manmohansingh, Soniya Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Arjun singh all other who have been involved to make people full

at this rate our govt may pay billons of dollar to usa for BP OIL SPILL TO SHOW OUR LOYALTY TO BRITISH EMPIRE

Can Indian Politicians, Judges of Indian courts willing to donate their life time savings to USA in show solidarity for ecological disaster in Gulf of Mexico due to oil spill.

Compensation of this mignitude is not even worth of 1 Lac per victom in 1984. So nothing from govt. spending too. Let us see how US govt deal with BP in case of Maxico oil spill and fatalities.

Ladies & Gents, It is time for some hardball NGOs to take the case to the International Court of Justice. The Bhopalis have been conned by everyone so far including their own state and federal governments.

Shobhan, i appreciate the sentiments u brought forth for the tax-payers.
However i feel the decision taken by the GoM is in light of all the facts and judgements announced before. I shall reiterate them below:
1. Dow took over Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) 16 years after the disaster and 9 years after UCC sold its stake in UCIL (the indian subsidiary which ran the Bhopal plant) to Eveready Industries.
2. In early nineties an agreement was reached by the Supreme court and UCC when they agreed on a compensation amount. The Supreme court also said if in future the issue on the compensation is raised again 'it will be the government who shall pay the difference'. In 1994 UCC sold its stake in UCIL to Eveready Industries. The proceeds of which were used for building a hospital for the victims.

When Dow bought UCC (UCIL was not part of UCC). Tell me how Dow is linked with the gas tragedy.

"people are an asset to any Nation" and this is particularly true when it comes to capitalism.

Harvard educated Shree. Chidambaram must be having his own plans to pursue this issue with concerned parties.

Is it not amazing and amusing how Obama administration pursued Gulf spill matter ?

Article A of (A)should be the same for any human under any Human Rights Act. And, I am sure Indians are certainly not from the Mars !.

ok -tell us what we can do? how can we make Dow pay - what can a cites izen do? public pressure does have an effect - you have stated the problem - I am a taxpayer and pay tax honestly--last year I had to pay a Rs 30000 rs bribe to get my tax file freed of scrutiny -the bribe amount was "low" since they found that my account was "clean" and he said "all i can do is call you over many times since you have paid your taxes and harass you". So what can someone like me do so that my tax Rs dont go to waste?

Sir, You are Correct I really appreciate your thoughts. It is really shameful for us Indians to feel proud that this is what our DEMOCRACY is which is least bothered about common people and even Govt. of India is stake holder in these exploiting companies........Shame on you Mr. Prime Minister shame... but this things will not be as heard as no truth can deter our Politicians in Power to help as it falls on deaf ears.

TOI has released about more than 50 comments by me so far
mostly instantly.
By the way, I am the Ex-Executive Director of Bank of Baroda.

Indian politics has dropped to new low with this, i am not against providing relief to the Bhopal victims but letting the general Indian public pay for it is absurd. Indian government can not bring out what happened in 1984 in open as it will open a can of worms linking the Gandhi family with it something congress can ill afford at this point in time. For this they are ready to let Dow off the hook with out any damages being paid for what they did

Can anyone send this article to each and every member of GoM, there are bleak chances that they will try to fully appreciate it but if there will be some consciousness left next time they will think before taking such a fullish decision...

Mr Shobhan,

I agree with you completely that it is ridiculous to not fine UC/DOW and instead use the taxpayer's money to pay compensation to the victims. What I don't understand is the compensation and the delay.
If we were anyway going to pay for this, why didn't the government do it 2 decades back when the disaster occurred? Why did the poor people have to suffer all these years to get the compensation? Or did they? I think people have been fighting for justice for all these years, not money.

Also, many victims have lost their lives or certain bodily or mental functions. Is Rs. 2, 3, or 5 lakhs enough to compensate for this? Would Chidambaram and his GoM (Group of Morons) part with say 25% of their brain, or maybe just have his right hand paralysed if one paid them 5 lakhs? I don't think so. This whole idea of compensation through the government is a sham.

I feel the people wanted UC/DOW to pay a huge compensation so that they feel the financial burden and in effect feel penalized for what they’ve done, not because they need the money. I’m sure some victims do need financial assistance, however if they’ve survived without it for so many years, I think they would have survived for a few more. There was no urgency for it. It is unfortunate how things played out and I wish there was a real system in India to hold those responsible, accountable for their actions. I think the judiciary is not up to this task.

minimum they should allot 10000crores as compensation, taking in to account money multiplier theory since the tragedy.
Donot believe chidambaram.

Thank you Mr Saxena. Atleast some word of protest. But that is all we are going to be able to do. UC will go free. So will Mr Anderson. We are Indians. Our lives are worth only so much. How dare we ask for justice? How dare we ask for compensation? Dont you know that you are Indian. Besides we are rich now a days and probably can afford to pay our poor unfortunate fellow citizens who happened to be (living) at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sorry fellas.
By the way, great article. My sentiments exactly.

I think ,we expected this only.There is no Union Carbide in this world now.It is fully sold.It does not exist any more.Secondly,when they paid $470 millions as agreed money,it was apart of the agreement that there will be no other payment or no court cases from that point of time. When Dow purchased UC,they ensured that they will have no concern with any of their past cases,in any way.Therefore,I feel,whatever is appearing now,is the best expected.

I think that the thorough inquiry by Independent Panel of politicians who have taken substantial bribes must be the next step to punish them now. They should not get scot free. Indian taxpayer will have the burden now. Further bribes by concerned politicians can't be ruled out. Beware.

What a great article.

GoM,
Please pay from pocket of the Gandhi,Arun Nehru,Arjun singh etc all the ministers pocket not from the taxpayers money.
On the other hand we should see if one of our national or private oil and gas companies to make a blunder like this in other country like America and lets see them send their heads back in one peice and without any compensation paid and if paid should b afer 26 years to their locals, (probably they will be sent back in coffin).
IF they dont skin our Butts they surely put a economic blokade on us.
We feel deeply ashamed to even discuss this bhopal issue as indian's with other nationalties.
God help us if another similar issue occurs!

It sounds harsh but completely true. Take an example of BP for the Gulf oil spill. US already has received $20 Billion from BP and expects Billions more.
Union Carbide (Dow Chemicals) should pay for everything.

The matter assumes additional significance due to the time elapsed.While only God knows in what state are the loved ones of the dead,what treatment shall be available to the injuried,most of them permanently disabled?
As pointed out the matter assumes significance as the the ministers have tried to absolve the Americans .But the paper has been soft to recognise why this is done;it is the present Prime minister"s weakness,and lack of foresight in running the nation,which forces him to lean on to the Americans for saving his prestige.In this particular case,it is not clear why an important point like the PM'S daughter being in the American GOvt"s employmnet has been overlooked,which must have also weighed with the Ministers before arrving atr this decision.As far as the integrity of the politicians is concerned,we arw orld famous for our level of corruption.But in this case the facts have been overlooked by all,including the highest court of law,and it is the duty of the President Of India to appoint a high level commission ,taking people from all walks of life,to define this collossal failure,otherwise we haveno faith in this Govt. or its adminstrators.

tht is reason why i dont like congress.. for some reason they let off the culprit and now they are charging us to pay for the mess... WTF does they think..

This is one article which should make our rulers hang their heads in shame. The Bhopal gas disaster is not just a crime on the people of Bhopal alone, it is a crime against Indians, we felt the pain of loss of innocent lives, the permanent damage it did to the people who lived. It hurt us all Indians to no end. We suffered with the victims, we shared their anguish and yet we, the victims are asked to pay! What a mockery of justice!!

The great Congress Party drama of appointing a GOM after 26 years of Bhopal tragedy is an EYEWASH!
If we look closely at the Government PANEL appointed by the government to look at the BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY , we find that this government PANEL is just an ANAGRAM of the government PLANE that carried Anderson safely out of the country!!! Should we expect anything new from this GOM?

The Government Panel is talking about cleaning the TOXIC waste from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Site. The actual Plan of the Congress Party is not to clean the TOXIC waste at the site but actually to WIPE CLEAN the TOXIC victims of the tragedy who are giving the Congress Party Bad Publicity! Nonetheless, I suggest that alongwith that they should also put in some effort to:
1. Clean the Congress Party of its TOXIC Propagandists who camouflage as spokespersons and whose only ability is to LIE with Confidence and Conviction!
2. Clean the Congress party of its TOXIC divisive agenda just to remain in Power.
3. Clean the Congress Party of its TOXIC alliance with the MEDIA to fool the people of INDIA.
4. Clean the TOXIC policy of the Congress which uses the CBI to settle party scores.

If given a choice, I may agree to live with the TOXICITY of the Bhopal site but NOT agree to live with such TOXIC policies of the Congress Party as listed above but certainly not limited to the same. But do we have a choice?
We have only one vote which does not constitute a vote-bank or a ‘note-bank’ either!!! These are the only banks that count in our distorted form of democracy where the farmer’s suicides and bhopal tragedy deaths are mere statistics…statistics, as they say, is an insignificant part of the real MATH.

Absolutely correct. The compensation payable to Bhopalians is now lying in various Swiss Bank accounts.

Congress is following Vote bank dharma

These politicians will sell our country for their greed. It is not that the GOI should or shouldn't pay damages to the victims but it is about our country being tenacious in our effort to seek reparations from the U.S. corporation. We should take a cue from Obama's arm-twisting of BP to get $20B for the Gulf clean up. India should leverage it's various positions with the U.S. vis-a-vis the U.S.'s various interests in our region to get this done. The public, for their part should keep intense pressure on the govt.

HI. JUST FOR THE RECORD.UNION CARBIDE HAS ALEREADY PAID OUT OVER A BILLION DOLLARS AS COMPENSATION TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT CHANNELS. ALL THIS MONEY HAS BEEN GOBBLED UP BY ALL LEVELS OF CORRUPT OFFICIALS. AND AS USUAL THE REAL VICTIMS DIDNT GET A PENNY OF THIS MONEY.

Earlier I thought North Indians are more corrupt than South Indians, but it seems P.C has failed them all. I have even heard about P.C that his hobbies match to N.D Tiwari's hobbies. Now I understand how P.C can getter better deal of hobbies to N.D Tiwari. More Money better Young deals. P.C never repeats his Play Ground, he always plays on a new ground but uses the same swollen tools to play.....lucky dude, I hope Madam gets new tools every day.

I still wish the best thing it could have ever happen to india after the independence was the succesful terrorist attack on the parliament.

Dear Shobhan,you are always very sincere about Bhopal victims,a really thought provoking article is before us.but the intellectual efforts don`t work before this emotionless PM.for last 25 years, I have been watching this person.believe me if he does not hold the prime ministership,he will be settled in America with citizenship.recently I watched a photograph of our PM with Sri Lanka`s President Rajpakse.can you compare our PM with Srilanka`S most dedicated President.Rajpakse has demolished whole LTTE terrorism with very hard determination.our inert and apt PM talks with terrorists in Kashmir.What a boneless and spineless Prime Minister we have!actually He works under the direction of Ahmad Patel who is a real PM(under cover) of India.Even Sonia is totally Influenced by Ahmad Patel.I`m sorry to say that you should not expect any productive and nationalistic from such type of people

Slowly, Surely Bhopal will be become Congress WATERLOO.
Whole thing is about how State & Central Congress governments manipulated entire issue and fooled the country.

Who will pay is not the question at the moment. The victims should get at least something; if at all something really reaches them. Payment should be made and guilty should be forced to pay, if there is scope for that after scrutinizing government files, corruption and whatever happened in the past. Public has to be cooled. Whatever it is, we have elected the best bets available to us. We can’t change the past, only present actions are in our hand. I am ready to shoulder my share of the burden of my inadequacy to get elected, being not appropriately vigilant, not raising the issue in last 26 years, and not able to prevent negligence from happening.

You can see the difference how a western company hold a company responsible with the new BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico US. With the BP disaster US president gets personally involved and makes sure that BP takes responsibility and pays for the victim for the lifehood and extensive clean up of the area; not in the years to come now! BP CEO is called to congress in Washington and the whole cross examination is shown to whole world showing the transperancy of the system.
In India after thousands of people dead,more crippled and the site staying contaminated and derelict for 26 years nobody is held responsible.
This is India where our Goverment care about the welfare of the foreign investers not our people or land!

Right from independence the people of India know that all politicians in India are corrupt but still being voted into power in every election.If the industrialists are beaten to death, inteligencia & FDI will stop coming into industry in India which will be the biggest catastrophe.India justice system too is made of human beings from India who too filter through prism of verdicts in resticted application of law as they avcoid to be biased against or infavor of any party to the dispute. Justice delayed is justice denied should well be weighed even now in India.Victims of Anti Sikh riots of the same year 1948 still are suffering & struggling for justice beside hijacking of evidences by the dirty politics.No Sikh CEO will dare to pursue as he does not want to be considered biased towards either way to escape social isolation.PM has taken the right decision to give the relief as per spirit of industrial norms of conduct.However it will take decades to heal up.As Govt collects revenue from the industrialist, it is no obligation or pain if the victims are compensated from the public funds more so when they are being looted by politicians in one or the other way.CM of UP constructed her status while still living to be sure to be on the ground as she cannot leave any public good on the ground with legitimate process of budget by the state assembly.Indian have stronger instinct to become corrupt without any exception or bias whosoever finds his way to politics.It is like a cancer & India has to suffer till dismay or disintegration to the next bout of extinction or attrition come what may.Let us move forward without looking to the past as we have failed to learn from the history. We prefer to worship rather than implementing the tennets of holy teaching in all the places & in all the religions.

I storngly agree with the author of this article. It is a shame that people have to bear the burden on both the counts 1. The suffering that was caused in 1984 Now 2. To clean up that mess. It is the inability of the Congress Govt., then and even now to handle the situation. Why did the govt. allow the sale of Union Carbide? Because, of corrupted ministers and the promises given by them to DOW and etc. this situation has arised. How did the Govt of India realised to grant 1500 Cr to the affected people only in 2010? What was it doing all these days since 1984 until the latest backlash? Sleeping or ruling? Why should a tax payer pay to cover-up the inablity of the Govt.? Is the 10-3 Lakhs enough for the suffering of life-long? Not even 60% of that amount reaches the victims.

What is it that the govt. is doing to prevent future disasters like this? Wake-up.

Hats-off to that journalist who has thrown that Shoe at Mr Chidam

GOM Has taken out another way of swindling the tax payer money. the main aim is to fill the pocket of ministers n not to compensate the victims.if the govt was serious of compensation it would have done immediately after the disater. why they wait till 25 years n after public outcry they announce the compensation. it is too late n too little.

PLEASE START A SIGNATURE CAMPIGN AGAINST THIS MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST USING TAX PAYERS MONEY TO COMPENSATE FOR UNION CARBIBE MISTAKE

Why not the money come from the pockets of politicians? Let the MPs MLAs and even President of India suffer a pay cut to raise funds for victims? Its high time that Indians shall realize "Its people's money and the government's money"!

Yes absolutely correct. Our inert and apt PM do not have dare to speak against terrorist, Naxalites.
Even look at our past and present president. They did not have time look into the pending issue of hanging of Afzal Guru?
Can young India think about making career in Indian Force? Politics in our country had gone to such a lowest level that, tomorrow if it happens that, Pakistan attacks us and demands for Kashmir or else fight for Nuclear war, these b....ody politicians will give away part of country.
Shameless!!!!!!.

i think this all has been done only to suppress the rage of public & to emege themselves as veracious..
the govt. ransacked and did not find any better way to retreat themselves.. the govt should realise that the whole world is watching the so called justice they have done to the victims and this will not make mockery of the govt. nationally but internationally..

The title of the article is wrong in a sense that, how will he avoid payment if it is asked? This is the age of prepay card. Don't forget Bagladesh refugee help postal stamps post 1970. He used the word penny proverbially and no one will ask any penny or dollar etc. That is ok. The point is, what should be done so that the burden does not come on head of Indian public. To ask corporates to pay for disaster you need American military that India does not have. Forget joint exercise. There is a common denominator. Sorry. Ghalib said : hamko unse wafa ki hai ummed; jo nahi jante wafa(fidality) kya hai.

Why parallels are not drawn with the oil leak in the gulf of Mexico. BP in just 2 months was made to deposit $20 billion in escrow and provide all kinds of compensation . The MNC oil companies that have polluted south America have been forced to clean up so why this exception with India and Indians????

Great article this, we should all start a rally against this decision which ridiculed our people and nation.

The present Congress govt. is the biggest thug.

By promising to fund the Bhopal cleanup the govt. is making the Indian taxpayers pay for the sins of the manipulative MNCs who bribe their way into setting up shop in India. These are the very MNCs and other Indian corporates who again bribe the govt. for it to look the other way when envirnmental and safety norms are being flouted by them.

Only God can save us from this corrupt and money minded govt. which has conveniently brushed the issue of Swiss bank accounts under the carpet.

Obama is making BP pay upto 20Billion USD for the oil rig explosion in gulf of mexico. Indian govt does not have the balls to do that. All they can do is take away tax payer money and still win hearts in MP for doing something about the gas victims and benefit in next election.

I am afraid that we, as a nation, are failing totally. First of all, it took us decades to deliver a simple judgement on this tragedy ( we have a great judiciary indeed). Secondly, we are squabbling about Mr. Anderson ( I am not sure what he is worth now) instead of focussing on our corrupt machinery, Govt and systems that let him go in the first place. Thirdly, we are not even asking Dow Chemicals to pay for the mess ( Isn't US asking BP to pay for the mess they are creating in Gulf of Mexico ? ) because we believe in our tax payers' charity rather than fairness and Justice.
Oh, What a nation are we !!
Even after getting independence decades ago, we still act as servants of the white skin aliens. No wonder, thanks to our deeply inherent nature of forgiveness and charity, various invaders looted us in the olden centuries. And now, the MNCs are repeating the gory act !!!

By the way I think Mr. Chidambaram is also a lawyer by training. Probably he should work for BP arguing their case with Obama Admn for not charging for the oil mess. He can make some extra income.

The only way Dow and Union Carbide will pay will be to take steps to extridite Anderson.As a warning to alltop executives in US and India it will ensure that compensation would be paid in time once the noose tighten in their necks.Anderson will fight his extridition for years till perhaps he dies, but as a parallal action Govt must take the case to the International Court, and also make UC India to shell out some money.
To make Indian tax payer pay for the clean up is ridiculus. The factory should be nationalised without compensation to pay for the clean up as well give relief to the sufferes

why are you all wasting your time talking about the government and its policies. I think we tend to forget that it is not the taxpayers who elect a government, it is the people in the villages and the min.... who elect the government. So stop cribbing about it and accept whatever is available to you.

Wow! What a classic, far reaching decision.
Consider this: Union Carbide comes and creates all this mess, leaving a blot on Bhopal for generations to come.
Union Govt wakes up after 26 years and completely forgives Union Carbide and forces the tax payers to pay for the crime.
All in name of saving the top leaders and putting the matter under the carpet.
While we should all welcome relief for Bhopal and its victims, but we should strongly reject GoM recommendations and push for Union Carbide / Dow to pay.
Polluter Pays. Full Stop.

Right now, In US similar battle is being fought over BP and the burning Oil Well. US Government has hammered BP hard and clearly instructed to BP to pay. In fact, they have setup a $20 Billion USD Account paid by BP, operated by US Govt, with no cap to pay for the damage BP has done.

And here we are absolving Union Carbide completely and paying from our own pocket.

What a pity! Injustice to everyone!

To Author: May be you should also rephrase your article title - penny OR paise?

Good artical. Hope the young and dynamic Rahul Gandhi reads this. Even if reads will he understand what the artical says (it's a joke they expect him to be next PM)?
I have read few of the comments and u guys hit the bulls eye.

Guys a few things here:
Firstly a very good article. Secondly we all know what are politicians are no need to elaborate. If not for the BP spill the media would not have given this much coverage so the fault is with the media as well. Why are all the people baying for Anderson's blood? Do not get me wrong I am not saying he is not responsible or that he should not stand trial. But what about the politicians, government babu's, media, and people as well who allowed a chemical plant which produces poisnous gas in the heart of bhopal. Sad to say that there is no accountability at any level.
Politicians want either to gain mileage or limit damage depending on which side they are. Media just wants their ratings, this is a topic which sells in the present environment so it is in the news. What about us the citizens , the most powerful part of the democracy. We vote for people because they are from our caste or religion or place. We vote because we may get some short term benefit...a color tv, free electricity, never bothering about the bigger picture. How many of us have voted for the party which we think would be good for the country as a whole and not for my region, religion or caste? Very few I would think if so we are getting what we deserve. I am not unpatriotic but it is hard to keep your eyes closed and think that India is shining.

The Congress labeled Narendra Mody as "Maut Ka Saudager" after the Godra riots. Mody returned the compliments after the recent court verdict in the Bhopal gas leak case. Do we see any difference between either? Politicians of all shades are "Birds of a feather". Can anyone name a single politician alive who can be termed a "Patriot"? They are all Frauds,& it is we who are responsible for the pathetic state of affairs in India. Only a civil uprising can change this,not just blogs & writeups in the media as the media too is pathetic

As part of standard Project Management techniques, we usually see what are the things that have gone bad and we plan for mitigations and highlight risks. I have never seen the politicians do that...how can they just keep goofing up all the time and come up with either excuses or pay tax payers money as though it is their grandfather property...and sadly there is no one to question them. I think there should be some accountability from each politician otherwise i dont see light at the end of the tunnel...it is going to be dark forever...

What is wrong with these shamful bastards ruling the country. BP spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico and the Administration got it to deposit $20 Billion dollars in a fund. And here they have allowed the CEO to escape trial and are offering pennies to the victims only to save their seats. The most corrupt party in the country, the Congress Party has sold India and the Indians time and again for monetry gains.

Wkae up India, Wake up at least now. Boot these corrupt Bastards out and some out of the country.

Not a word form GoM on how Warren Anderson escaped ! They do not even want to invetsigate! That means they know they have skeletons in the cupboard. Ladies & Gents, Something tells me money changed hands not only in 1984/85 but even recently. We are talking big money, the likes of even Arjun Singh cant handle.

Does the congress and the government owe any thing to the people of this nation? This is to mollify that the blame shall not fall on Rajiv and Gandhis alike.

Mr.Saxena, if you think you have written an article with contetnts no one have ever revealed, just shed your feeling.Behold your breath. We are yet to pass a nuclear liability cap Bill which too contain clauses restricting the liability of the faltering Inc.,and thereby raising unspecific liability on the part of taxpayers.In your article please add one more persona for blaming-Indian citizens of the present generation who have been mute spectators for all these years to tolerate too many Bhopals, which I am afraid,are likely in this country, given our long history of pathetic political administrative system.

Shobhan Saxena's outrage is misplaced. The laws permit to tax people. The taxes, so collected, keep the government running smoothly. Government, in turn, protect the people from natural and man made disaster, from internal dissensions/terrorism and external interference/aggression. Government also is responsible for the welfare of the people and can decide, if and when, a beleagured section needs adequate protection/compensation. Tax money, when paid, is government entity. Taxpayer has no lien over paid taxes and or assessed taxes on income.

When Bangladesh military action was taken military costs themselves were beyond any usual budget allocations. It was an emergency situation. The war was not necessary for the survival of India. It should never have stepped foot in Bangladesh over an internal Pakistani dispute. India is responsible for the consequences of this uncalled for war. The refugees started coming and had to be accommodated. This new influx created several national and state problems. One thing leads to another and Indians found their joy of dividing Pakistan was not worth the trouble it left for Indian tax payers to suffer under. People either gladly or grudging paid the Balgladesh cess for years on.

I am sure, Shobhan Saxena has wit and wisdom to understand the principles involved here. As long as government of the people, for the people in democracy takes proper decisions with proper laws, proper procedures and systems, the causes and consequences are to be borne by people like outlandishly outrageous Saxena.

If he doesn't like the democracy in India, he may vote against it along with his compatriots. There would certainly be a prominent position made available for him as a dictator, by acclamation.

Hail the Caesar Saxena and his angry tax dodging Sena.

http://navanvonmilita.wordpress.com/

...and I am Sid Harth

Why it took 25 years to deliver Judgement in Bhopal Case. Everyone in the entire world are laughing and making jokes of Indian Judiciary. This is not democracy, it is hypocracy. Entire Indian system is totally corrupt and there is no hope to get justice.

I agree with the Shobhan Saxena view. Congress govt is going to do SECOND BHOPAL GAS leak.This time killing lack of middle class(Salary)taxpayers. This Govt collets taxes for waving loans of farmers,to rectify the court Judgements etc. We don't pay tax for this.

Taxpayers have been milked by all successive governments-state or central. Any accident,police firing on unlawful mobs destroying our property etc. The value of a life is measured in terms of rupees.The causes of the death,perpetrators are unimportant.The way out of any problem is to dip into a taxpayers money.No solutions no steps to prevent repetition,no action against the officials or perpetrators.We the Indians have to think about this style of governance and vote accordingly.Vote for clean candidates and try and bring probity in public and private life. The country cannot progress if we don't lead honest and hardworking lives.

If US is making BP pay for Oil spill we should be smart enough to make Dow to bear 1500 CR.

I cocur with the author. Carbide must be made to pay for the cleanup and compensate the victims as well. It should not be the GoI that should be paying from the coffers of the taxpayers money. Take the BP oil spill in the gulf of mexico. WHo is going to pay and how much? BP is paying $1000 per barrel of oil spilt... now that is being debated but for sure it is BP that is paying. He who casues the harm should pay. But in this god forsaken contry, it is called magnanimity. At whose cost and for what? NO one asks this?
Now for a minute think of this. A co comes a country, setsup a plant, the plant has an accident, causes a calamity. The company shuts down and after 25 years, the highest court of the country says we need only $500 per head as compensation... now is this possible in say England/ US/ France/ China for example? Is the life of an Indian so cheap? and the rest of the cleaning up willbe done by the country? why? is it logical? will you let your house be used like this?
I hire your house, make some stupid thing in your house/ say i manufacture glue. something happens and there is glue all over the place in your house. WOuld you let me pay you just $500 and you will clean it yourself? Think of it this way and atleast then you will understand how much is being done to this country

writing about the injustice and congress nautanki will have no result. Indian's are born to be suffer.We Indians are greedy, corrupt and insensitive. So don't cry, just forget it and say loudly the bloody proverb Jo hota hai Acche ke liye hota hai.

This article is unbalanced. Union Carbide had agreed to pay 470 million dollars in an out of court settlement reached in 1989. This amount falls short of the amount now being designated by GoM for compensation. There is no way it can be recovered from Union Carbide, so it is no use getting hysterical over it. Since the Government of India represented the people in negotiations with Union Carbide, the Supreme Court in its 1991 decision required the Government of India to make up any shortfall, however unlikely, in the settlement fund.

The Government of India has traditionally paid compensation to victims of disasters in the past and should do so now, especially since the Supreme Court decision requires it to do so.

Granted that Bhopal was and is a terrible tragedy. But; we left it to the courts to probe the issue and impart justice. Now when court has announced its verdict, everybody is up and shouting...as usual in the forefront is the media; parleying the incident to suit their ratings. If you did not believe in the judiciary's abilities or judicial process, why submit such cases before court of law. Now that verdict is out, its time to accept it and move on. All said and done, what most people seem to want is a convenient bakra to behead, someone on whom to vent the fury for the tragedy, the delay in justice the convenient apathy; and who better than Anderson. Unfortunately no one can turn back the clock of time, the damage done is terrible, irreparable and beyond any compensation possible. Realise and accept this.

While people and politicians are busy arguing where the money will come from, the Bhopal victims continue to suffer. Shouldn't their plight come first. Let the money come from anywhere, FIRST END THE SUFFERING. That is the HUMANE thing to do.

the Indian political,judicial and financial system is still being run as it used to before independence. Even after 50 years of independence India is managed by handful of "Mandarin" allegedly working for themselves oppose to an English Kingdom before independence. Our system still works on the fundamental basis set up in the British Raj that reserved unreasonable, undisputed and unchallenged power to the administrators. As a result most often than not they are out of reality and reach of common people. They are not interested in community welfare instead wish to fill in their coffins. There is an inexorable collusion between policy makers (leaders) and implementors (bureaucrats)that mostly work to develop personnel gain than working for the community.

GOI has money to the tune of 20000 Crores to waste in stupid 10 day Commonwealth Games due to wrong priorities of this Government, but when it comes to Bhopal Gas victim compensation years and years are simply lost with no justice at all!!!

We taxpayers are expected to pay for the wrong actions of Sarkari Sahibs.

A classic case of corporatocracy. People must read "Confessions of an economic hit man". Our country is being fed to the dogs by our corrupt khadi wearing mafia.

I think the matter is neither the compensation nor Warren's punishment here the main point of thinking should be that how can we improve the conditions in hand right now.The people of India cant handle more tragedies like that,so instead of looking at rich and old Warren we should look our present factories and prevent any thing like Bhopal in future...

Taking about compensation,i think any amount of compensation coming from anybody's pocket cant help. We just need to be unite as one nation and discuss how to improve situations.

Im glad to see the views of people here but tell me only one thing , If we indians are so aware of the corruption and black money issues then y no one raise voice against it , why the hell thrs no young blood , honest indian blood in politics? why we always know to criticize and complain and not to be responsible....people make a nation great , they are the biggest assets of any country....

I am in agreement with the above article and feel why should I pay for Bhopal Gas victims? They should be paid from out of the incomes and welath of Rajeev Gandhi who was the main culprit in lettting Anderson go out of India according to a declassified CIA note on Bhopal Gas tragedy and also according to the Statement made by Mr. Rasgotra, the then Foreign Secretary in an interview to a TV channel. So, Government should immediatelly recover this money from Mr. Rajeev Gandhi's heirs if they cannot recover it from Union Carbide or DOW who had purchased the Union Carbide. In no case, the taxpayer should be asked to pay for the Bhopal Gas victims.

Very misdirected ire.. It is thinking like this that has denied solace to so many for 25 years...

I fully agree with SS.
This govt. is already working for American corporation whether it is for N-Deal or defence deals.Unfortunately, BJP could not run the country though in few states they are doing well. I find Bhopalese with 'bechara ' mindset, more like paracites, no self respact, does not want to resolve the issue themselves, waiting for last 25 years to get some 'bheekh'.

nice article dude.but i disagree with u that the judiciary has not done its job well.legally speakin,it was a correct decision as per the precedents established.the guys who have been punished were simply indian pawns of the corporation.law does not prescribe a stringent punishment.an u r correct when u condemn the executive,which to me is at fault for all the mess created.though public anger is there,an i m angry 2,for anderson going scot free.but it is the executive which let him go an also facilitated his non extradition.

Whats wrong with you people. A day ago, entire nation, readers-viewers from all around the Indian were asking for compensation, right? Now that our highly esteemed Government has granted 1500 crore you still want to cry? How greedy could one be? Has anyone seen lifestyle in Bhopal? Any decent family could survive within a limit of Rs5000 so why all this fuss of not getting enough? Lets start living with self respect and self esteem and stop begging for everything that goes wrong. Many people of India thinks that corruption is the core problem but its not the corruption but our attitude of begging and not being satisfied with whats given. What one could have done if Government havent granted the sum of Rs1500 crorewhich is really big for a third world country like India, would you not agree?. Would you guys please stop being greedy and begging all the time?

The curse of democracy is that we have to live with these corrupt politicians till a alternate form of government succeeds. Once elected they operate with immunity to rob murder or kill. Bhopal should be a deterrent but instead the government is inviting hell in the form of nuclear liability bill introduced in the parliament. These politicians should be dumped in Hitler's gas chamber.

Forget Bhopal, the people dead are gone. Worry about the new chemical Dursban, which according to your article is a toxic chemical being marketed today.
Why do journalists not make a noise about Dursban?
These are the things people need to be protected against.

Shobhan Saxena has gone nuts carrying out his hysterical anti american tirade.Now obviously we all agree that the tragedy was catastrophic and the victims were treated shabbily but the govt wrongly agreed on a settlement for the amount with supreme court approving it.Now how can the govt withdraw that.

Compensation to the Victims on the false data in which the number of vitims are very less, serves the 2 purposes :

1 This will led to the division of the one decisive group of people under th banner of Bhopal Victims as some of them are given the compensation and some aren't.........this will hopefully create a divide on which they wish to rule.
2. By not accepting all victims as eligible for the compensation they will be able to check the compensation bill low and after the unity of victims is dissolved by division and rule policy .......the rest of the others left out will loose the strength of their voice which currently commands a lot of pressure on the central government.

Time for a Indian peoples revolution, the tax payers will become naxalites.
Dear Indians stop paying your taxes, if this bloody govt is going to squander it for their corruption,inefficiancy and cowardness. The president and PM you will be creating maoists from the tax payers group

www.poemhunter.com/dr-yogesh-sharma/ Sir you deserve special congrats for this excellent write up. In India life is very cheap. Moreover our leaders are so shameless and perverted that they search for vote banks in coffins. In 1984 anti Sikh riot victims and much hyped Gujarat riots, victims got very fat economic packages in the name of healing touch and rehabilitation because there victims belong to fanatic vote banks. But in Bhopal the victims were ordinary people and they were not vote banks so they were disgraced in even in death. Even in Kashmir terrorist and their family members are getting rich compensation packages because there all terrorist are Muslims. Recently Omar Aubdulla led government pass a dubious order that killed terrorist's family member will get compensation equal to martyred security man. So this is the ugly face of our leaders. Even a big Congress leader recently visited the homes of Jamia-Batala house terrorists in UP to express his sympathy and love to terrorist. These terrorists were financed very liberally by VC and professors. For for Bhopal they have neither sympathy and time to visit nor money to give as compensation. Bhopal has shown the very ugly face of Indian system. Politicians, bureaucracy, judiciary, media, NGOs, all were partners in this game of death. All made big fortunes over the coffins of poor people. Bhopal shows the total collapse of our constitution and constitutional machinery. Now agents of Anderson is crying for the blood of Anderson but they are protecting Anderson-s in our own country like Arjun Singh, Justice Ahmdi etc. First these desi Andersons should be punished than cry for the white Anderson. But sad reality about this tragedy is that even after the tragedy of this magnitude voter elected Congress in Bhopal, in Mp elections and in Central Parliamentary elections in 1984. It shows how our people are insensitive to their brother and sisters. In any foreign country such party would have wiped out.

Shobhan, some of the comments here show the Indian mindset that explains why our governments are able to get away with their serial chicanery.

You bet the governments would have already done their "arithmetic" on this. They know that a handful of people will see through their deceit. But they also know that the vast majority of pseudo-sentimental Indian sheep are incapable of looking at the big picture and seeing how the government is playing us for fools time and again. All they bleat about is that the "poooor peepals" of Bhopal must be "portected". So the government gets away with it yet again, even getting complimented in the process.

You bet the disbursements will be timed to coincide with the next elections, so the ruling party can hand out cash in expectation of votes for themselves -- after first pocketing the lion's share of the money meant for these people.

I feel "i won't pay a penny:" just goes as venting our anger against what has been done by the judiciary & GOM. More than compensation its justice that hurts & it goes a long way.It's about the way our policymakers/lawmakers/judiciary sends signal that how strongly they lack in sound judgement. I strongly believe if GOM is so keen in helping the people why it's not punishing the US MNC, why it's allowing the culprits to go clean. What the precedence they are setting up, i should say one more time, spread the bullshit..there GOM will clean it up anyhow after whatevar years, after whatevar casualities. With such attitude, i wonder why they cry when some terrorists are born & come out to take revenge.

I bow my head in shame for electing such honest ministers in the govt.JAI INDIA

I strongly agree with this. Whne dow chemicals aquired UC in 2002, they know the fact well.The Money should be recovered from Dow chemicals or Warran Anderson

Well written. Chidambaram and co are taking advantage of the fact that most Indians dont think of Government money as their money. Due to this ignorance, most feel that if the Govt is giving money to the public, then they must be doing good. Our politicians are nothing but an extension of the raja maharajahs who feel that the govt treasury is theirs to do as they please. Democracy and the concept of taxpayer money is yet to be understood by vast majority of our public. So why blame Chidambaram and co - its our ignoramus majority public that allows them to behave like the raja maharaja.

its not first time that government picks from one hand and give to other hand,its clear govt.policy towards america and towards common man.this incident proves that over government is much loyal to Americans compare to Indians. and what we are doing we are just seeing this whole thing and give chance to government to repeat this types of mistakes.

we Indians deserve it for we refuse to take lessions from our past n go on electing d same ppl again n again

How can government set 1500 crore of ours for bhopal tragedy? Why why the tax that we pay on our hard earned money be given in such events? THe government should have asked the company whoever is owning now for the compensation, whatever be the amount. Look at the US now shell is seting aside $2billion for the spilling than why the Indian givernment canoot do it.

Great work...Mr. Saxena. Unlike many of your colleagues...gormless suckers!

"For a few dollars...I'll sell my hole;
For a few more dollars...I'll sell my soul.
Pump-up the compensation dhol...drown out the victims' howl;
We knew we stole...let's now all go 'gol...gol...gol' !"

Sad Sad State of Our Nation!

Oh BTW...on the topic of making a 'valiant attempt' at extraditing Mr Anderson...a little perspective:

We have been spectacularly unsuccessful in extraditing those Khalistani terrorists who were responsible for bombing Kanishka and umpteen senseless murders. These guys are/were Indian-born naturalised US/Canadian citizens. These countries refused to extradite despite all evidence. Does this Congress Govt seriously wants us to believe that the US will extradite a US-born White citizen & a top ex-CEO to boot?!

Its time we gas these politicians out of existence! What suckers...what a national pain!

this is absolutely corret.the ministers and politicals they dont have value for peopel money.After 25 years they are releasing money for bhopal victims only for the votes not because they want it. i dont know how much of that money will be going to their pocket?

I totally agree that Union Carbide should pay for the disaster they've caused. But first and foremost, can't we by any chance stop foreign companies from flourishing in India? Rather why don't our govt. trust Indian companies. I mean the plant set up by a US company could be set up by an Indian one. Or else this plant could've been operated under Indian supervision. In that way I personally think that we Indians wouldn't have felt ashamed of any mistake or failure that could have occured in such case. But its a mistake on our part that we don't rely on our people. After all, an Indian can understand an Indian's pain in a better way. Don't you think?

Oh well, this is another point that will make it to Congress's next election manifesto! The worst part is that they aren't paying a penny(paise) for it! Whether you like it or not, the government is going to take money out of your pockets or who knows a bill might be introduced in the parliament, "Man made disasters Fund" and we pay for the all the crimes that these TRUELY GLOBAL organisations make. We might not vote for whoever is responsible for pinching our pockets but the guys in Amethi, Bhopal will truely be on the moon with this HISTORIC verdict and sadly their point of view cannot be changed.

Can anyone tell me why should the CEO of UC , Anderson or whatever his name be, held guilty and tried for the Bhopal Tragedy? Did he order release of gas on Bhopal inhabitants as Hitler? And, has not rhe Company paid already to you know who? How can they pay a second time?

India paid for her own occupation by East India Company. So what is new? Mir Jaffers are now Congressmen.