Hindustan Times, Bhopal, January 10, 2007
More than 200 survivors of the gas disaster on Wednesday held a demonstration at the local corporate office of Tata Indicom to protest against chairman, Tata Group, Ratan Tata’s reported offer to clean up Union Carbide’s Bhopal plant on behalf of Dow Chemicals.
Describing Ratan Tata’s offer as an attempt to clear the path for Dow-Union Carbide’s investment plans in India, leaders of the gas victims accused Ratan Tata of causing damage to people and environment of India by facilitating the expansion of American multinational Dow Chemicals in the country
They emphasized that as 100% owner of Union Carbide, Dow Chemical USA is liable for the environmental and health damages in Bhopal. They said that according to the “polluter pays principle” which is valid both in USA and India Dow/Union Carbide must pay for the clean up in Bhopal. They charged Ratan Tata with helping Dow Chemical escape the liabilities of the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.
They accussed Ratan Tata of helping Dow Chemicals escape the liabilities of the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.
Leaders of the NGOs said Ratan Tata should first clean up the environmental damage caused by Tata group of companies in Sukhinda, Orissa, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, Mithapur, Gujarat, Jamshedpur, and West Bokaro in Jharkhand and other places in the country before attempting to clean up Bhopal.
The demonstration was organised by a group of four NGOs including Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Ki Aawaaz, and Bhopal Group for Information & Action

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