New Delhi:
Why was Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson, accused of culpable homicide, given the chief minister's plane to fly out of Bhopal four days after the gas leak in December 1984? Speak up Arjun Singh, is the clamour.
Eighty-year-old Arjun Singh, who was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh then, is not saying a word. But a day after senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh suggested that he answer some hard questions on the Bhopal gas tragedy, another party man, RK Dhawan, has said Arjun Singh should clarify why Anderson was allowed to get away.
Anderson flew into Bhopal four days after the gas leak. On the same day, 7 December, 1984, he was arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. A few hours later, Anderson was escorted like a visiting dignitary to Chief Minister Arjun Singh's plane and was flown to Delhi. Soon, he was out of India, never to return.
After the verdict this week in the Bhopal gas tragedy case and a light sentence for those accused, questions are being asked all over again on why Anderson was allowed to get away. Many blanks are being filled through the memories of those who were there and some say orders were received from the Chief Minister's office. But, did the Chief Minister act under any pressure?
Not from the Centre, says RK Dhawan, then special assistant to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Speaking to NDTV, Dhawan said on Friday, "No such call was made from the Prime Minister's Office... I was handling the PM's telephone and no call could be put through without my knowledge."
There were many instances, Dhawan, said when Chief Ministers took decisions on their own. "In Uttar Pradesh, V P Singh resigned as chief minister and Indira Gandhi got know the next day," he pointed out.
Dhawan also said, "Using the state aircraft requires permission. It is time Arjun Singh speaks out and he must clarify why he allowed it."
Digvijay Singh, who was a minister in the Arjun Singh government at that time, kicked up a storm on Thursday when he suggested US pressure could have led to Anderson being allowed to leave the country. He later reiterated that he was unaware of what happened at that time in Bhopal since he was away campaigning, but did say: "Rajivji left his campaign and came to Bhopal as PM. He did not release Anderson. Why don't you ask any of the following persons: Swaraj Puri, then SP, Bhopal; Moti Singh; then collector Bhopal; Brahm Swarup, then Chief Secretary, and Arjun Singhji, then Chief Minister?"
That's in keeping with the party line. Without naming then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh, a Congress spokesperson on Thursday said Anderson's exit must be explained by those who organised it.
"The party has always maintained that all questions that are raised in any such situation must be answered properly and responsibility should be fixed. The same norm applies to this case," AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.
The BJP too has singled out the veteran politician for a focused attack and wants some answers.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked Arjun Singh to explain the circumstances in which Anderson left the country.
"Let Arjun Singh explain it. Whether he did it (gave permission for providing the state aircraft) himself or anybody told him to do so. We want a reply from him if a wrong direction was given. And after all, why such a direction was given," said Chouhan, who has already written a letter in this regard to Arjun Singh.
Eighty-year-old Arjun Singh, who was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh then, is not saying a word. But a day after senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh suggested that he answer some hard questions on the Bhopal gas tragedy, another party man, RK Dhawan, has said Arjun Singh should clarify why Anderson was allowed to get away.
Anderson flew into Bhopal four days after the gas leak. On the same day, 7 December, 1984, he was arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. A few hours later, Anderson was escorted like a visiting dignitary to Chief Minister Arjun Singh's plane and was flown to Delhi. Soon, he was out of India, never to return.
After the verdict this week in the Bhopal gas tragedy case and a light sentence for those accused, questions are being asked all over again on why Anderson was allowed to get away. Many blanks are being filled through the memories of those who were there and some say orders were received from the Chief Minister's office. But, did the Chief Minister act under any pressure?
Not from the Centre, says RK Dhawan, then special assistant to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Speaking to NDTV, Dhawan said on Friday, "No such call was made from the Prime Minister's Office... I was handling the PM's telephone and no call could be put through without my knowledge."
There were many instances, Dhawan, said when Chief Ministers took decisions on their own. "In Uttar Pradesh, V P Singh resigned as chief minister and Indira Gandhi got know the next day," he pointed out.
Dhawan also said, "Using the state aircraft requires permission. It is time Arjun Singh speaks out and he must clarify why he allowed it."
Digvijay Singh, who was a minister in the Arjun Singh government at that time, kicked up a storm on Thursday when he suggested US pressure could have led to Anderson being allowed to leave the country. He later reiterated that he was unaware of what happened at that time in Bhopal since he was away campaigning, but did say: "Rajivji left his campaign and came to Bhopal as PM. He did not release Anderson. Why don't you ask any of the following persons: Swaraj Puri, then SP, Bhopal; Moti Singh; then collector Bhopal; Brahm Swarup, then Chief Secretary, and Arjun Singhji, then Chief Minister?"
That's in keeping with the party line. Without naming then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh, a Congress spokesperson on Thursday said Anderson's exit must be explained by those who organised it.
"The party has always maintained that all questions that are raised in any such situation must be answered properly and responsibility should be fixed. The same norm applies to this case," AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.
The BJP too has singled out the veteran politician for a focused attack and wants some answers.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked Arjun Singh to explain the circumstances in which Anderson left the country.
"Let Arjun Singh explain it. Whether he did it (gave permission for providing the state aircraft) himself or anybody told him to do so. We want a reply from him if a wrong direction was given. And after all, why such a direction was given," said Chouhan, who has already written a letter in this regard to Arjun Singh.
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