Bhopal victims greet New Year with flaming torches

Bhopal, Dec 31 (IBNS) Bhopal gas survivors on Saturday greeted the New Year with torch lights and pledged to continue their fight for adequate compensation and against Dow's sponsorship of Olympics.

Five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal on Saturday greeted the New Year with torch lights, music and dances by children.

Holding flaming torches, survivors stood in a formation of the Olympic Rings to demonstrate their resolve to continue with their campaign to oppose sponsorship of Olympic Games by Dow Chemical.

The organizations also vowed to continue to pressure the government to present correct figures of death and injury in the curative petition before the Supreme Court to ensure adequate compensation for all gas victims.

Holding banners saying "New Year, Renewed Spirits" the survivors resolved to intensify their ongoing agitation for proper compensation from Dow Chemicals and Union Carbide.

Children of survivors danced to the tune of a now popular song on the violation of human rights by the state government during and after the "rail roko" agitation on the 27th Anniversary of the disaster.

Leaders of the survivors' organizations expressed hope that in the year 2012 they will be victorious in their long drawn battle against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide.

The five organizations are Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Children Against Dow Carbide.