Law Minister Moily says Centre not to pursue Bhopal gas tragedy case in US courts

New Delhi, Oct 28 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily has said that the Central Government has decided not to pursue Bhopal gas tragedy compensation case in the US courts, observing it was not in interest of the country or victims.

"The Central Government has reportedly decided to not pursue the compensation from the parent company, the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) in any US court. The country's courts are competent and capable of resolving the matter," he said, while addressing the media persons here on Wednesday night.

M Veerappa Moily further said that pursuing a case against Union Carbide in the US courts would not be in the interest of the victims and India.

The Law Minister was responding to a question on the opinion of Attorney General G E Vahanvati that India should not become a party in compensation-related cases in the United States.

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 metric tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide Plant in Bhopal into the atmosphere and was carried by wind to surrounding slums.

The Government says around 3,500 died in one of India's most horrific of industrial disasters. Rights activists, however, claim that 25,000 people have died so far. (ANI)