But Dow says that while it is comfortable with the case against Union Carbide proceeding in the court, it finds the Department of Chemicals suggestion that Dow fork out Rs 100 crore as an interpretation that the government was holding Dow liable. In a letter to the Ministry of Industry on December 8, the Charge d’ Affairs of the US Embassy in Delhi urged the government to withdraw the Rs 100-crore claim on Dow.

While the top leadership of the UPA government is in favour of burying the legacy, a senior Cabinet Minister told The Indian Express: “It is a sad history but should not bring about a stalemate. Dow has come to work in India, it is not shying and running away... if we do not help Dow settle this, then the company will move to Thailand or Vietnam.”