Hyderabad: Amid a raging debate over who
secured a safe exit for Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson in
the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the CPI today said it
would not have been possible without the nod of the then Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"It is very obvious that the decision for sending out a
foreigner of such a high standing, the head of an MNC, could
not have been made without the nod from the highest quarter.
And the highest quarter happened to be Rajiv Gandhi, who was
at that time the Prime Minister," CPI General Secretary A B
Bardhan told reporters.
He felt an attempt was being made by Congress leaders to
shield the late Prime Minister from cricitism and said, "I can
understand the worry of Congress leaders. But let them not
think that this country is made up of gullible fools who do
not understand things."
Bardhan, who was briefing the media on the discussions at
the three-day National Council meeting of the party which
concluded here yesterday, accused both the UPA and NDA
governments of failing to protect the interests of Bhopal gas
victims and sought an effective law for fixing liability in
case of industrial disasters.
He said a comprehensive liability bill should be in place
for expeditious compensation to the victims of industrial
disasters.
PTI
