Dow spokesmen disingenuously add that all Carbide’s liabilities in India were covered by the 1989 settlement. Untrue. The water poisoning was never part of that settlement.

Now Dow would like to expand its business in India. It has found allies in heartless and irresponsible politicians who have done nothing to clean the factory or provide clean water but who seek ways to free Dow of its Bhopal liabilities.

Promises made to the Bhopali survivors two years ago by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have been dishonoured. A Supreme Court order dated 2004 to provide clean water has been ignored. The Bhopalis recently walked 800 kilometres to meet Manmohan Singh. For more than a month he and his law minister have not found time to meet them.

Those poisoned in Bhopal continue to sicken and die, without help, without compassion, without justice.

Sinha is author of ‘Animal’s People’