February 12, 2006
Minister who refuses poor families clean water, celebrates his birthday with elephants, camels, dancing horses and a 53 kilogram cake
The small cake is just the icing, there was apparently also a mother-of-all-cakes which weighed 53 kilos, one for each year of Gupta's life.
27 June 2005
Umashankar Gupta, Minister of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation, Madhya Pradesh government recently celebrated his 53rd birthday.
His followers took out a procession with elephants, horses, camels and dancing horses. There was a lavish firework display. Mr Gupta cut a cake weighing 53 kilos and one of the garlands put on him [by corporators of municipal ward 50 Asharam Sharma and Rameshwar Sharma] was 21 feet long. The Chief Minister and his other cabinet colleagues congratulated him.
While these junketings were going on, people for whose care he is responsible lie in hospital with breathing difficulties after the inept "clean-up" work at Union Carbide's contaminated factory sent a cloud of poisons over their neighbourhoods. Even after being shown pictures Mr Gupta told disbelieving journalists there was no problem, and the work carried on.
Thousands of people living near the Union Carbide factory continue to suffer as Mr Gupta and his colleagues in the MP government of Babulal Gaur have for more than a year ignored a Supreme Court order to provide them with safe drinking water.
His ill-informed, and bungled press conferences have amazed journalists. How does a man so clearly incompetent attract such a large devoted following, who clearly have money to burn? As they say in America, go figure.
Posted by bhola at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
Politician finds $180 million for fountains and badminton courts while children starve and families drink poisoned water
16 June 2005. Mr Babu Lal Gaur, Chief Minister of the state of Madhya Pradesh, is reported to be planning a spend of $180 million (800 crores of rupees) on beautifying four major cities including the capital, Bhopal.
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Money for badminton but not for the hungry and thirsty
Meanwhile, writes The Statesman newspaper, almost half the state's children are suffering from malnutrition.
The Gaur regime, it can hardly be described as "government", has for more than a year also ignored an Indian Supreme Court ruling to provide safe drinking water for families in Bhopal whose wells and stand-pipes have been poisoned by chemicals leaking from the derelict Union Carbide factory.
Last month, women who went with their children to a government office to protest were beaten and kicked by police.
Gaur and his politicians have also sent barefoot women and children into the factory to begin a "clean-up" of the hazardous chemicals left there by Union Carbide.
On this website are plenty of pictures of workers with no protection whatsoever, breathing in clouds of lindane and ddt dust.
Indian politicians, both at state and central level, hold Dow Chemical, the present 100% owner of Union Carbide, liable for the pollution and the cost of the clean up.
UPDATE FROM BHOPAL ON FACTORY "CLEAN-UP"
After the intervention of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee, the MPPCB (Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board) has agreed to let community respresentatives into the factory to oversee a transfer of toxic waste from open areas to sheltered spaces within the site.
This is neither a containment, nor a clean-up, and is merely a prelude to the big affair.
So for now please hold off on phone calls or SMSs to PCB members or the Chief Secretary.
Please continue below for the The Statesman article.
BEAUTY LIES IN THE EYES OF CHIEF MINISTER
Santosh Singh in Bhopal
June 15. — Four districts, by the state government’s own admission, are suffering from malnutrition. There is also an acute water crisis in several districts. The government has an outstanding loan of over Rs 33,360 crore.
But none of these seems to be the immediate headache of the Babulal Gaur government. The CM is more concerned about the beautification of Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur. He wants broader roads, dazzling street lights, neon lampposts, grand roundabouts with fountains, parks, gyms and badminton courts. The project, to be carried out in two phases, will cost the state exchequer Rs 800 crore.
The CM does not seem to be much perturbed by the problem of malnutrition in the state. According to an estimate, almost 50 per cent of 1.6 crore children, mostly aged below five years, in the state are suffering from it. In last three months, over three dozen children died reportedly because of malnutrition but the government has no concerted plan to address the problem.
Though Mr Gaur has despatched a team to seek reports on malnutrition, he is more engrossed in his beautification programme. High levels of undernourishment reportedly exists among the women and children of Sidhi, Dhar, Ratlam and Ashok Nagar.
The government has done nothing in these affected districts beyond directing officials to organise camps and distributing vitamin capsules and ORS powder.
The Madhya Pardesh State Electricity Board is yet to pay off its due of over Rs 700 crore . Free distribution of electricity to farmers are only burning holes in its pockets yet the “populist” government is not bothered about it.
Mr Gaur, whose fascination for good roads and anti-encroachment drive is well-known did a three-hour inspection of Bhopal, a couple of days ago, to find out where beatification is necessary. It may be remembered that VIP road of the city was constructed under Mr Gaur’s previous dispensation as a minister under Mr Sunderlal Patwa.
Several private groups and contractors have found a brisk business in Mr Gaur’s beautification plan. They reportedly earn a huge profit margin by engaging in such projects.
Posted by bhola at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2006
List of injured includes a child of 3, police used batons and boots
FULL SIZE PICTURES CAN BE HAD HERE
1. Nawab Khan [59] Gandhinagar, Secretary of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha was hit with stick on his right hand when he tried to protect Sarangi. Much swelling and pain in right hand. He was referred to the hospital for an x-ray.
2. Ummedi Bai [60] Sriram Nagar : Bleeding from right elbow and injury to right eye due to stick injury. She remembers a dark policeman hitting her.
3. Babulal [Baba] [50] Annu Nagar : Hit with a stick by police on his right thigh. He was pushed down by the cops. He lost his ‘kamandal’ [a sadhus only vessel] and his sacred necklace broke.
4. Sanno [30] Annu Nagar : Her children Sharukh [3] and Gulsiya [6] were crushed in the stampede when the police started chasing everyone down the stairs. Her daughter got fever after the demo. She has got a blackeye [left] from being hit with a stick and on her elbow when she was pushed around in the stampede.
5. Tulsiram [55] Annu Nagar : Police verbally abused him and then dragged and pushed him that caused bruises in his hand and on his back.
6. Vimala Bai [40] Shri Ram Nagar : Police hit her on her right knee and verbally abused her. She suffered a fall when she was pushed down the stairs.
7. Allah Rakhee [65] Nawab Colony : She got hurt on her pelvic bone and on her face when she was pushed by the police.
8. Maya Bai [40] Shri Ram Nagar : She was hit by a policeman with a stick on her right hand. Also suffered injuries due to being stuck in a crowd.
9. Kasturi Bai [50] Shri Ram Nagar : She was hit with a stick on her back. Suffered a fall when pushed down the stairs injuring her hip and knee. Also got verbally abused by the police as they were beating.
10. Sikandar [17] Annu Nagar : Got crushed in the stampede caused by police chasing people downstairs. Injury in his legs.
11. Syed M Irfan [55] Itwara, President, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha got hit by a stick in his middle finger and was pushed down the stairs. S R Yadav, the Police Station Incharge of Jehangirabad Police Station grabbed him by the neck and banged his head against the police van. Received injuries on his forehead.
12. Tulsa Bai [60] Blue Moon Colony : Has a bruise from police hitting her with a stick on the back of her right leg. She was also hit with a stick on her back which made her fall and was crushed in the stampede.
13. Shyam Bai [40] Annu Nagar : Fell down while being pushed down the stairs and suffered injury on her right thigh. She was also hit with a police stick on her back and has difficulty walking.
14. Rashida Bee [49] Bag Umrao Dulha : Hit with a stick on her head drawing blood. Bangles broken due to stick injury on her hand. Stick injury also on left shoulder. Injured in her elbow when dragged by the police.
15. Shabbo [45] Annu Nagar : Fell on the stairs when pushed by the police. Ribs and back injured and cant sleep on the side. Swelling and pain in abdomen.
16. Shahazadi [42] Blue Moon : Police dragged her by the hand. Suffered bruise in her left elbow and hand when hit with a stick by the police.
17. Saleem Khan [41] Annu Nagar : We were demonstrating peacefully but Mr Yadav grabbed me and threatened me that he will chase away my sleep. 3-4 policemen rained sticks on his back leading to bruises.
18. Ruby Khan [35] Blue Moon Colony : Policemen held her by her hair and banged her head against another woman’s head. Was also kicked from behind. Was hurt badly and was dizzy long after. Policemen misbehaved with her.
19. Rani Chouhan [50] Annu Nagar : S R Yadav verbally abused her and raised his hand to hit her which she stopped. She told Mr Yadav that men have no right to hit women. Mr Yadav got even more angry and said I will teach you law. She insisted that female cops should be called but was told by Mr Yadav that he could handle both men and women. Then he punished her which made her fall.
20. Rajshree Goyal [40] Shri Ram Nagar : Was verbally abused and pushed down the stairs.
21. Nidhi Rajput [9] Sundar Nagar : When police were beating Sathyu I was standing close to him. I got hit on my right hand and suffered injuries. I have pain in my neck too. Police was verbally abusing every one. She fell down due to pushing by the police.
22. Narendra Singh Rajput [19] Sundar Nagar : Policemen pushed him down the stairs and he suffered injuries in his back. They also verbally abused him.
23. Mehfooz Khan [55] Blue Moon Colony : Police beat him at the back of his right knee and pushed him down the stairs. They dragged him down and beat him more with sticks.
24. Shakeela Bee [35] Annu Nagar : Fell down when pushed by police and was verbally abused.
25. Satinath Sarangi [51] Sheetal Nagar, Berasia Road : First S R Yadav punched me on the face following which 3-4 policemen started beating me with sticks. I was also kicked on my chest and punched. They swung me holding my hair and legs. My glasses broke, I lost my slippers and my clothes were torn. My left knee is also bruised.
26. Rachna Dhingra [27] Sheetal Nagar, Berasia Road : I was pushed around by policemen and was dragged in to the police van.
Testimonies collected by Mr. Anil Singh a social worker from a non government organization called Muskan, also a free lance journalist.
Posted by bhola at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)
Give the corrupt politicians a wake-up call, protest police kicking and beating women who were asking for their rights
17 May 2005
Please ring the Chief Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh government to express your disgust at today's police beatings and kicking of women who were protesting to demand that a Supreme Court order to provide them with clean safe water be obeyed.
The man to speak to is Vijay Singh.
His work numbers are +91 755 2441370 / 2441848..
His home number is +91 755 2443090.
India is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT, but if you felt like waking Mr Singh up at 3, 4 or 5am, who could blame you? Think of it as a wake up call.
Posted by bhola at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)
Bhopal's mentally ill police kick and beat women - again
17 May 2005
After past police beatings of women protesters the Chief Minister of the state of Madhya Pradesh has had to make a public apology for police brutality (see for eg, Bhopal.net records for 25th November 2002), but nothing it seems will teach the despised pandus restraint.
A week after a report by research students revealed that 15% of Bhopal's police are mentally ill (scroll down two stories) once again, women's bodies are on the receiving end of their heavy batons.
What were the women protesting about? The fact that more than a year after India's Supreme Court ordered the state government to provide them with clean safe water, next to nothing has been done and promises made by local officials have been routinely dishonoured.
The people of the communities from which these women came need clean water because their wells and stand pipes have been poisoned by chemicals abandoned by Union Carbide at its derelict factory. Twenty years after the night of horror, piles of deadly poisons lie rotting in the open air, washing deeper underground with each monsoon.
If you ever had any doubt that India's politicians, both at local and at central level, regard the Bhopal survivors as an embarrassment, and basically side with the American multinational whose greed and negligence caused the problem in the first place, think of the bruised bodies of these women.
Will update this story. Meanwhile if you want to protest, ring the Chief Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh government to express your disgust and to demand that the Supreme Court's order be obeyed. The man to speak to is Vijay Singh. His work numbers are +91 755 2441370 / 2441848 and his home number is +91 755 2443090.
India is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT, but if you felt like waking Mr Singh up at 3, 4 or 5am, who could blame you? Think of it as a wake up call.
Posted by bhola at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)