Washington: As the Bhopal gas tragedy verdict is widely criticised as a mockery of justice, the United States has rejected any possibility of re-opening the Union Carbide case.
(In Pics: Bhopal Gas Tragedy)"Obviously this was one of the greatest industrial tragedies and industrial accidents in human history," US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake told reporters Monday. "We hope that this verdict today helps to bring some closure to the victims and their families."
"But I don't expect this verdict to reopen any new inquiries or anything like that. On the contrary, we hope that this is going to help to bring closure," he said in response to a question about the Bhopal verdict.
Blake also declined to comment when asked if the US would be more receptive to a request from India for the extradition of Warren Anderson, then chairman of the Union Carbide parent group saying "As a matter of policy, we never discuss extradition."
(Read: Union Carbide reacts)On Monday, after over 25 years, eight people were convicted for the world's worst industrial disaster and sentenced to two years in prison. One of them died during the course of the trial. The other seven were granted bail. About 20,000 people were killed in the Bhopal gas tragedy of December 2-3, 1984.
(Read: Bhopal gas tragedy: Bail granted to all accused)Those convicted in the case include Mahindra & Mahindra chief and former Union Carbide of India Chairman Keshub Mahindra. However, there was no word on Warren Anderson, who was declared an absconder after he did not subject himself to trial in the case that began 23 years ago. The former executive lives in suburban New York.
(Read: Who is Warren Anderson)Meanwhile, speaking on the Bhopal verdict, State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley said, "It was a terrible tragedy, one of the worst industrial accidents in human history. We would hope that this particular case does not inhibit expansion of economic, cultural, and political ties between our two countries. The Indian Parliament will have to make judgment on the nuclear liabilities bill, but this case...criminal case...should have no relation to the liability legislation currently before Parliament."
Linking the court verdict in the case with the nuclear liability bill, BJP on Monday made a strong plea to the government to reconsider the draft legislation contending that it "shielded" private suppliers.
Noting that discussions were underway on the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Bill, BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said "the government should learn proper lessons from Bhopal gas tragedy. The bill, as envisaged, puts any criminal liability only on the nuclear operator."
"We urge the government not to rush with the crucial legislation. In light of bitter experience of Bhopal, the government should reconsider the nuclear bill seriously," he said.