NGOs appeal PM to raise issue of Anderson's extradition with Obama

Two NGOs working for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims have appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise the issue of extradition of former Union Carbide Corp (UCC) chairman Warren Anderson, prime accused in the case, with US President Barack Obama during their meeting.

In a letter written yesterday, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghathan (BGPMUS) and the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti (BGPSSS) have also requested Singh to take up the subject of another absconding accused in the case — UCC.

They have alleged that the Indian government has failed to bring the absconding accused to face trial in the 1984 gas disaster that killed over 3000 persons and maimed thousands of others.

"We have requested the Prime Minister to take up the matter of Anderson's extradition with Obama presently," BGPMUS convenor Abdul Jabbar Khan and BGPSSS, co-convener, N D Jayaprakash told Press Trust of India here.

Singh should impress Obama about the urgency of expediting the process of extradition of the absconding accused from the United States to India to stand trial as per the laws of this land, the two said.