Indians tell US to hand over Anderson of the Bhopal Massacre

[Guest guest]

Hand over Anderson and attack Osama

By Sanjay Sharma in Bhopal

 

A two-member delegation of American Consulate General in Mumbai, who

arrived in Bhopal to gauge the mood of Muslims over the US attack on

Afghanistan, found itself at the receiving end.

 

The delegation, comprising Consulate economic advisor J Amick and its

political advisor Arundhati Mundle were placed in a piquant

situation.

 

They could neither justify the US attitude towards the extradition of

former Chairman of Union Carbide Corporation Warren M Anderson nor

speak out on the US stance on the prevailing terrorism in Kashmir.

 

If Laden is held responsible for killing some 5,500 persons on

September 11 World Trade Centre attacks, Anderson is responsible for

some 15,000 deaths that have occurred due to the Methyl-Iso-Cynate

gas-leak from the Union Carbide Corporation Plant at Bhopal on

December 2-3, 1984, those present at the meeting said. He is wanted

by Indian Courts for trial.

 

The participants demanded that the attack on Afghanistan be stopped

immediately. They wanted proof that Osama bin Laden plotted the

attack on US. "Without any evidence how can Bin Laden be held

responsible for attack," a participant asked.

 

They unanimously flayed the US dual foreign policy and said no

religion should be branded with terrorism.

 

National Integration Committee vice chairman LS Herdenia, MP Catholic

Association's Fr Babu Joseph and Minority Commission members Tejinder

Singh Saluja and Alex Topno attacked US hypocrisy.

 

"On one hand, the US attacked Taliban without any proof against

Laden. On the other, it is mum over the extradition of Anderson who

has a fair chance of facing trial for the charges he was facing in

the Bhopal gas leak disaster case."

 

The delegation was at a loss for words when asked if US will continue

to fight global terrorism even after Laden was handed to America.

 

"In our opinion, America is the biggest terrorist state in the world

because of how it is persecuting the Palestinians," a participant

said.

 

The members said the problems could have been solved by way of

negotiations, but the US government preferred to violate even the

United Nations.

 

Those attending the meeting condemned the September 11 US attack,

unanimously adding that no religion preaches violence.

 

MP Minorities Commission Chairman Ibrahim Qureshi, at whose behest

the meeting was arranged, said the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi,

Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were the result of terrorism.

 

Referring to the terrorism in Kashmir, Assam and Punjab, he said

India had always been opposed to terrorism.

 

Those present at the meeting included Minority Commission secretary

AK Khatani, MP Waqf Board Chairman Justice AG Qureshi, MP Madrassa

Board Chairman Prof Haleem Khan, former minister Hasnat Siddiqui,

founder of Muslim Intellectuals Forum Askari Zaidi, Dawoodi Bohra

Samaj's Ali Asghar, and MP Jamait-ul- Ulema's Mazhar Kaleem.