Bhopal:
In a setback for organisers of the 2012 London Olympics, the head of the Ethics Committee, Meredith Alexander, has resigned from her post in opposition to Dow Chemicals being allowed to remain a sponsor of the Games.
Meredith's decision to step down has been greeted with celebrations in Bhopal where activists say that the support for their cause is growing day by day.
The Games are scheduled to begin in just six months from now and the activists are hoping that the move will intensify the pressure they have been mounting on the International Olympics Committee (IOC) through campaign and protest to disassociate a tainted company like Dow from the prestigious Games.
"Our government should also realise that when people outside India are protesting Dow Chemicals' association and are resigning, they should also write to IOC to boycott Dow Chemicals," said Rashida Bi, a victim of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
Meredith 's decision is being seen as stinging criticism for the organisers of the London Games who have consistently been defending their sponsorship deal with Dow.
"It is a huge setback for LOCOG that has been pedalling Dows' lies. They know their cover is blown and they cannot continue to justify having Dow as its sponsor," said Sathinath Sadangi, an activist.
The Bhopal gas tragedy victims and activists feel Meredith's resignation has put International Olympics Committee in a difficult position and are hopeful that this is enough to disassociate Dow Chemicals from the prestigious Games so that Dow Chemicals realises its responsibility towards the victims.