India

Victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy have been staging a series of rallies called “No Justice, No Vote”.

The campaign is being held to raise awareness of the different political parties stance on the gas victims compensation demands ahead of elections this year.

More than 100 survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy are carrying banners that read “Compensation First, Then Vote”.

Houses in the gas-affected areas have painted the same slogans on their walls.

Nearly three decades ago, a US-owned factory near their homes started leaking gas....it killed thousands of people and contaminated the local water supply. 

55-year-old Nawab Khan says he continues to suffer breathing problems.

“People still suffer from various diseases including cancer, but the government is not ready to accept us as victims. These people have to go to private hospitals and pay a large amount of money for treatment. The government is denying us facilities and compensation.”

It’s hailed as one of the world’s biggest industrial disasters.

But survivors say they have still not been given fair compensation for injuries and birth defects caused by the toxic waste.

It’s their 7th rally now... since the campaign started in May.

Balkrishna Namdeo is from a survivor group, Bhopal Gas-Affected Destitute Pensioners’ Front.

“Our “No Justice, No Vote” campaign is a fight for justice for gas victims. We want that the government to give compensation to more than 5 million survivors who have been wrongly denied compensation. We want to show our power to all the political parties that we will only support you if you are ready to fight for the cause of gas victims. We first want justice and then only we will vote for you.”

Several survivors’ groups have written letters to political parties to seek support for their campaign.

Pankaj Chaturvedi is the spokesperson for the ruling Congress Party.

“We know that there is no end to the sufferings of the gas victims of Bhopal. We understand their problems. If any organization brings to our notice any particular issue related with gas victims, weare ready to help them in every possible way.”

But last year, a New York federal court dismissed a lawsuit against Union Carbide – a major setback to campaigners seeking justice.

It said neither Union Carbide nor its CEO was liable for the disaster and the aftermath.

The ruling has sparked protest from survivors who have been calling for compensation and the site to be cleaned up for good.

But last month, Bhopal district court sparked a new hope for survivors... it directed authorities to send summons to the US-based Dow Chemicals, making it an accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

Amnesty International has hailed this as an “important step”.

Balkrishna Namdeo says the survivors are happy with this.

“We feel that now it won’t be easy for Dow Chemical to get away from their responsibilities. It cannot afford to disregard the orders of a District Court as Union Carbide has been doing all these years.”

But the dumped toxic waste and products of Union Carbide factory are still lying in these people’s backyards...

Chandra Bushan is the deputy director of New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment.

“Over the  years, this waste has been a continuous source of soil and groundwater contamination and therefore, a cause of serious public health concern for residents in the surrounding areas. The ground water in localities around the factory is contaminated with heavy metals said to be carcinogenic.”

Back at the rally...

Survivors promise to continue their campaign until the elections in November this year.

And they vow to vote for politicians who will ensure their compensation and end the injustice against them.