Four decades after the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s deadliest industrial disaster, survivors continue to endure unimaginable suffering, their calls for justice still unanswered.
On the 40th anniversary of the catastrophe, four NGOs leading the fight for justice organized a rally to the abandoned Union Carbide factory on the outskirts of Bhopal in central India, carrying an effigy of “corporate crime.” The victims, marching through the streets, denounced local, national, and international leaders for their role in perpetuating the denial of justice and dignity to survivors. Despite enduring decades of hardship, many still drink water contaminated by Union Carbide’s toxic waste.
As part of the commemoration, Bhopal gas survivor organizations held a torch rally to honor the victims and raise awareness. Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, sharply criticized U.S. Presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama for shielding Union Carbide and Dow Chemical from accountability. Bee appealed directly to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to end the long-standing injustice and hold the companies responsible, invoking Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal to regulate corrupt corporations.
