CPI blames Cong for Bhopal gas tragedy

Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan on Friday categorically blamed the Congress for the inept handling of the compensation and relief after the Bhopal gas tragedy in Madhya Pradesh.

Bardhan told reporters on Friday the Bhopal gas leakage and the flawed legal framework showed how the American authorities have escaped criminal liability.

Terming the meagre penalty awarded to the accused in the gas tragedy as disappointing, he said the whole approach towards the legislation will have to be revised and awarded severe punishment to the guilty.

Demanding the arrest of Carbide boss Warren Anderson, he urged the government to take steps to extradite him from the US and sought to impose higher punishment to him.

He said the offence of causing death by rash and negligent act would be comparable to the offence of manslaughter and demanded stringent punishment to guilty.

He blamed the Congress party for adopting policies and programmes which led to prices spiral in the states.He asked the political parties in the state to respect the recommendations of Srikrishna commission.