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Bhopal row ‘Centre did its job, tragedy reduced to car accident by SC’
New Delhi, June12 Reacting on the case related to the gas tragedy that killed several thousands of people, Moily said the government is sorry about what has happened. He insisted that the case against Warren Anderson was still not closed. “I am already on record that case is not closed against Anderson,” Moily said. The Law Minister further said the government did its duty at that time and it was because of judiciary justice was delayed. It was the Supreme Court that converted the Bhopal gas tragedy case into a case that attracted minor punishment, he added. “The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Anderson and all the other accused under Section 304(2) where the maximum punishment is 10 years,” said Moily. “But the case was converted to 304 A - which is meant for car accidents - by the Chief Justice of India at that time. For an offence of this dimension, I am sorry it was reduced. The government had done its duty, but because of judiciary it was delayed,” he told reporters in Bangalore. Terming the Bhopal gas tragedy as a disaster, Moily underlined the need for standard law to deal with such cases. “We are working on fast-tracking such cases. Cases of mass destruction should have standard law. Mass destruction is not an accident but a disaster. A process of class litigation should also be there,” Moily said. Meanwhile, former Chief Justice of India, AM Ahmadi, whose dilution of charges in the Bhopal case has created a storm, today said he would not like to enter into the blame game over the issue of accused getting light punishment. “I do not want to go into the blame game. I do not want to go into any type of spat with anyone,” he told PTI. — Agencies
Moily slams Alexander over Rajiv statement Bangalore, June 12 “I think he had joined the BJP. With the Shiv Sena support, he became a Rajya Sabha member. He is a new convert to the BJP-Shiv Sena and anti-Congress camp because he was not considered for Presidentship. It is a motivated statement,” he told reporters here. Moily said Alexander wanted to be a hero. “I think he is responsible (for Anderson’s sudden release after his arrest in December 1984) because he was the then Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister,” he lashed out. Alexander had hinted that Rajiv Gandhi might have had a role in the release of Anderson as the then Prime Minister could have agreed with the decision on letting him off the hook. The Union Law Minister said there was need for a law to fix responsibility on persons responsible for disasters such as the Bhopal gas tragedy. He said the CBI, which investigated the worst ever industrial tragedy that claimed thousands of lives, booked the cases under IPC section 302, but the Supreme Court converted it into 304 A (culpable homicide which provides for lesser punishment). “Unfortunately the judiciary did it”, he said. Moily said the government was working on codifying laws to ensure that disasters were treated as disasters only.
Sachin Pilot defends Rajiv Bhopal, June 12 “Though I respect the judiciary, in my personal opinion it was disappointing as large number of people were affected. But the then Central Government had no role in the incidents that took place after it,” Pilot, Union Telecom Minister, told reporters here. When asked if it means that the then state government was totally responsible for the safe passage of Anderson out of India, Pilot said he maintained what he said earlier... That the then Central Government had no role in it. On providing a state plane to Anderson and the then Collector and SP ferrying him in the DM’s official car, he said the committee formed by the Centre would look into all aspects associated with the gas tragedy.
— PTI
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