BBC NEWS
Six campaigners for victims of the 1984 chemical disaster at Bhopal have started an indefinite hunger strike in the Indian capital, Delhi.
The activists have been protesting in Delhi for over two weeks
The protesters, three of them survivors of the disaster, are demanding health care and social support for victims.
Thousands of people were killed after poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide’s chemical plant in the city.
Last month, 46 activists walked 800km (500 miles) from Bhopal to Delhi to demand compensation.
The Indian government gives an official figure of 15,000 dead in 1984 disaster.
But activists argue the figure is at least double that, and say many more are still facing health problems due to drinking contaminated water.
They want safe drinking water to be provided for the people of Bhopal and a memorial for the victims.
‘Fight of the weak’
Activists are also demanding that the then chairman of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson, be prosecuted over the disaster.
Bhopal gas tragedy victims joined by other supporters during their march in Delhi
The survivors walked 800km in 33 days to reach Delhi
And they want Dow Chemicals, which took over Union Carbide, to pay for the cleaning of the toxic waste.
But Dow Chemicals says it never owned, operated, took over or had any responsibility for the Bhopal plant which was owned by its Indian subsidiary.
The survivors walked 800km in 33 days to reach Delhi
Satinath Sarangi, one of the hunger strikers, said despite several requests the activists were still waiting to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Ours is a fight of the weak for the truth and the prime minister will have to listen to us,” he said.
Members of the group had met Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi, her son and MP Rahul Gandhi and a number of federal ministers to put forward their demands, he said.
Leading Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is also expected to join the group to show support for Bhopal victims on 14 April, he said.
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