Homage: BJVJ pays homage to victims of Bhopal Gas tragedy

Ludhiana, December 3, 2012: The Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ) paid homage to the victims of Bhopal Gas tragedy, which occurred 28 years ago as a result of leakage of Methyl Isocyanate Gas from the Union Carbide factory, on the night of December 2-3, 1984 killing 20,000 people and injuring 5.7 lakh persons.

Addressing the gathering, speakers warned that we have learned little from that super tragedy. As a result of greed, the unchecked growth is leading to serious environmental consequences and ecological degradation. The climate change is affecting our health adversely. Untimely weather changes and events like Sandy are manmade disasters for which concerted effort and policy changes are needed at the national and international level. In the absence of such policy, natural resources are being recklessly exploited by the multinational corporations and our rich elite. Even agriculture has not been spared. The genetically modified seeds are being tried in our country. This will have long standing impact on our agriculture sector and food resources. No wonder, a tragedy like Bhopal may be repeated. The expressed anguish that the toxic waste is still lying in the Union Carbide Complex. The DOW Chemicals is blatantly refusing to take up its responsibility to clear the place of toxic waste. This clearly shows the apathetic attitude of the MNCs towards the Indian people.

They further cautioned that the pursuit for electricity generation through nuclear power could at any time meet a similar situation. Instead of renewable resources particularly the solar which is in plenty in our country, and which is totally pollution and hazard free we are running after nuclear power under  the pressure of big international business houses. The USA has not ordered a single nuclear power plant since 1977. Australia which is the 2nd largest producer of Uranium does not have a single nuclear power plant. The country needs a comprehensive environment policy for sustainable development keeping the interests of common people.

Those who spoke on the occasion, included Maj Sher Singh Aulakh, President,  Dr. Arun Mitra – General Secretary, Krishan Lal Malik and Gurcharan Kochar- Vice President, M. S. Bhatia – Organising Secretary and Dr. Rajinderpal Singh, Amrit Pal Singh- Secretaries of BJVJ.