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Prayer meetings mark gas tragedy anniversary

By Our Staff Correspondent

Bhopal Dec. 3. The citizens of Bhopal and several activist groups working among the gas victims today observed the 18th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaster by holding prayer meetings and organising demonstrations to express their anger against those responsible for causing the worst industrial disaster that claimed thousands of lives and critically affected more than a hundred thousand people.

An all-religion prayer meeting was held this morning inside the premises of the now closed Union Carbide factory that had spewed tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate gas on the midnight of December 2 and 3, 1984, leaving behind a tale of death and destruction.

The Madhya Pradesh Governor, Bhai Mahavir, who attended the prayer meeting, said it was a matter of grave concern that those living near the Carbide site were being forced to drink water contaminated by toxic chemicals. He also wondered why steps had not been taken to clean up the site, adding that the State Government as well as the Centre should immediately step in and take concrete measures to remove the toxic chemicals.

Groups like the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS) and Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Morcha also burnt effigies of the former Union Carbide Corporation chief, Warren Anderson, at many places and condolence rallies were organised.

The BGPMUS burnt the effigies of the State and Central Governments along with that of Mr. Anderson, alleging that "both these Governments are hand in glove with the former MNC chairman''. The convener of the BGPMUS, Abdul Jabbar, said his organisation had been successful in keeping alive the issues linked.

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