MP Minister ''opposing'' commn on gas tragedy

Bhopal, July 5 (UNI) Organisations working for Bhopal gas tragedy victims today alleged that Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur was opposing a demand for setting up a commission focussing on the tragedy.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha's Saiyyad M Irfan and the Bhopal Group for Information and Action's Satinath Shadangi and Rachna Dhingra told reporters here today that the Centre was in favour of the commission but Mr Gaur's resistance was proving a hurdle.

''After the commission's formation, no scam will be possible using funds allocated for gas tragedy relief and that is why the Minister is throwing a spanner in the works, thereby impeding rehabilitation work,'' said Mr Shadangi.

The organisations alleged an attempt to save the Union Carbide company -- responsible for the leakage of lethal methyl isocyanate on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984 -- and Dow Chemicals that acquired Union Carbide.

UNI PKJ-AC 1708