New Delhi, Aug. 11: Absolving the late Rajiv Gandhi of having any role in the former Union Carbide chief, Mr Warren Anderson’s quiet exit from India, Mr Arjun Singh, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Rajya Sabha member, on Wednesday put the ball in the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s court.
Mr Arjun Singh told the Rajya Sabha that the PM should take up the issues of Mr Anderson’s extradition and compensation for the gas tragedy victims with the US President, Mr Barack Obama, when the latter visits India in November.
The Congress leader, who is rarely seen in the Rajya Sabha, surprised many by putting in an appearance in the House to participate in the debate on the Bhopal gas tragedy. He was speaking for the first time after the Bhopal court announced its verdict in the case this year allowing Mr Anderson to go scot-free. Mr Singh said Mr Anderson was “directly responsible” for the tragedy and the government should push for his extradition and seek “adequate and full” compensation for the tragedy. Mr Singh pointed fingers at the then home minister, the late P.V. Narasimha Rao, for Mr Anderson’s escape.