Bhopal gas victims to begin indefinite fast Monday

Almost 30 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, several survivors of the world's worst industrial disasters will Monday commence an indefinite fast here, demanding additional compensation for all survivors and correction of data in the curative petition filed in the Supreme Court by the central government.

To make their voices heard, five women survivors will sit on a total hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here from Monday.

"We have been trying to seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the last two months, but have been unsuccessful. We have been forced to sit on such a strike in Delhi," Balkrishna Namdeo of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha, told IANS.

On the intervening night of Dec 2-3, 1984, a toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide Corporation's pesticide plant in the Madhya Pradesh capital killed and affected thousands of people.

Around 3,000 people were killed instantly and many others suffered a lingering death over the years. It left victims injured and maimed, with many suffering lung cancer, kidney and liver failure and eye disorders after coming into contact with toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas.

Namdeo said they are demanding that compensation be given to all victims and that the death figures be corrected.

"The figures in the curative petition are much lesser than the findings of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) itself, which are government figures. These figures need to be corrected," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha president Nawab Khan told IANS that the government was not delivering on the promises it made.

"Will our voices be heard only when the condition of these women will worsen," he wondered, adding that the new prime minister has promised "achhe din" to all and they were waiting for their good days to arrive.