New Delhi:
The row over Bhopal-tragedy tainted Dow Chemical's sponsorship of next year's London Olympics is heating up with Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken saying that the government could take up the issue if needed.
Yesterday, the Minister wrote to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) asking it to convey India's concerns over Dow's involvement to the organisers. He today said that it was up to the association to deal with the issue.
"But the government can take it up directly, if needed," he added.
Dow Chemicals, which signed an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July last year, is the company which took over Union Carbide, responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy that killed over 15,000 people and disabled lakhs.
The company's sponsorship deal has led to outrage among victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy. They have demanded that India pull out of the Games. Former Indian Olympians have also come out in protest.
The IOA has said that it would convey these concerns to the organisers of the London Games.
"We will try to make Games Organisers aware of the feeling of the people who have suffered due to that tragedy. It is not only the Indians who are protesting this sponsorship, there has been an outcry against this world over from various NGOs and other bodies, it is no longer a local issue", acting IOA president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement on Monday.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also stepped in. In a letter to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on December 3, the ministry said that the company's sponsorship was a very sensitive issue and that there was strong public opinion against it.
The ministry has also asked the Indian mission in London to get more details from the organisers.
Dow Chemicals is footing the bill for a temporary decorative wrap over London's Olympic Stadium.
The company maintains that it never had a connection with the Bhopal disaster or its aftermath and that it will continue to assist IOC for successful London Olympics in 2012.
The issue has received diplomatic attention because of India's desire to bid for an Olympic Games in the future. Dow is one of the world partners for the Olympic Games till 2020.
Last month, British MPs had joined the chorus against Dow's association with the event.