December 1, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 6, 1424

BHOPAL: Indian politicians pumping up vote banks for key polls are wooing the thousands of people affected by a toxic gas leak in 1984, but the victims are wishing up to their ways with each passing election.

Around 2,000 people died instantly when 80 tons of the paralytic methyl icocyanide gas leaked from a pesticide plant owned by then US-based Union Carbide firm in Bhopal, capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Chronic effects of the world’s worst industrial disaster have killed 20,000 more in the past 19 years, while courts in India and the United States wrangle over damages, compensations, medical costs and blame.

The disaster also led to 100,000 injuries with 50 per cent of the victims becoming partially or totally disabled. NGOs here say at least one gas-hit person has been dying daily since 1984 from respiratory ailments, cancer and deformities.

Local forums caring for the victims say politicians are preying on this votebank ahead of the December 1 state polls.

“Each election, the parties come and make this an issue,” said Satinath Sarangi, who heads the Sadhbhavna (Brotherhood) Trust which is involved in providing medical aid to the ailing survivors.

“But no one has taken it seriously. We have had to fight the system for every little thing. The system has only made promises and done nothing.

“Imagine the chemicals have been lying there for 19 years as the federal and state governments fight over the issue of cleaning them. They wouldn’t even allow Greenpeace to do it,” Sarangi said.

He has published a seven-point pamphlet which he and his staff distribute advising potential voters to ask pointed questions of political contestants.

“I want them to confront politicians and ask what have they done for the victims, list their works and what will they do if they win,” the spirited social worker said.

Abdul Jabbar, who operates the bustling Swabhiman (Pride) Centre, an employment agency for victims of the disaster, is himself a survivor of the gas leak.

“I was just a short distance from the factory when the gas began leaking. I ran with my aged mother. We must have walked 50 kilometres. Even today I suffer from lung illnesses,” he said.

At his centre, dozens of women work on sewing machines, stitching emblems for the contesting political parties they themselves feel have betrayed the cause of the victims.

“We have little hope,” said Naushena Begum, whose home is near the now-ruined Union Carbide factory. “Half my family died in the tragedy and the other half is still suffering.”

One of the key election issues centres on 1.5 billion rupees given by Carbide as compensation that is in the custody of India’s Supreme Court as the federal and state governments squabble over who is responsible for doling out the fund.

“The court had to take the money given by Union Carbide in its own custody as the two governments cannot reach agreement on who should disburse it,” said Jabbar.—AFP