Twenty-six years after the world's worst industrial disaster that had left over 15,000 people dead, a local court on Monday convicted all the eight accused including former Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra in the Bhopal Gas tragedy case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P Tiwari pronounced the verdict in a packed court room convicting 85-year-old Mahindra, and seven others in the case relating to leakage of deadly methyl isocyanate gas in the intervening of Dec 2 and 3, 1984, in central Indian city of Bhopal.
They were held guilty under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence), 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336, 337
and 338 (gross negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.
However, there was no word on Warren Anderson, the then Chairman of Union
Carbide Corporation of the US, who was declared an absconder when he did not subject himself to trial in the case that began 23 years ago.
Others found guilty are Vijay Gokhle, the then Managing Director of UCIL,
Kishore Kamdar, the then Vice President, J N Mukund, the then Works Manager,S P Choudhary, the then Production Manager, K V Shetty, the then Plant Superintendent and S I Quershi, the then Production Assistant.
The sentencing in the case is expected later.
Arguments on the quantum of sentence were put forward by the defence and prosecution counsel.
Attracted by the teachings of Adi Sankara, a Peruvian envoy in India has decided to undertake research on the eighth century philosopher of
Vedanta at a university run by the Kanchi Kamakoti Trust in southern state Tamil Nadu.
Carlos A Irigoyen Forno, Deputy Chief of Mission, Peruvian Embassy in New Delhi, who introduces himself as a descendent of Incas tribals of the South American nation, has applied for doing research on Adi Sankara at the Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya (CSVMV) in nearby Enathur.
Forno, who was here to visit the famous Kamakshi Amman temple Sunday, said he had been drawn to Adhisankara for over 42 years.
When asked what inspired him, he said it was a tryst he made with Ved Vyas 42 years back, whose Mahabharatha he read in a French translation. He was overwhelmed by the canvass and
the thought, he said.
The Incas, who are part of the tribal population of Peru, share many things in common with Hindus, he said, adding they have the same belief in Sun and Moon worship, besides
worshipping Garuda and snake.
The Peruvian Deputy Ambassador said ties between countries can develop and strengthen only on the base laid by universities and trade.
Universities have a great role to play through exchange of scholars and Ideas, he said.
On trade ties between Peru and India, he said Peru is a major producer of gold and silver and there was great demand for Indian silk sarees and gold ornaments in his country.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries of which Peru was a part, would be holding their summit meet at
Tokyo soon and the discussions would cover economic issues important for the entire world.
On India not being a member of the bloc, he said trade imbalance could be one reason.
He said a vast potential waited to be tapped in Peru.
India and Peru have a rich Biodiversity, and could jointly fight Intellectual Property Rights issues at world levels, where the challenge was thrown up everyday.
Protection of Rights and Registration Laws are areas of crucial importance to both the countries, he said, adding there was much that both countries could gain by joining in
areas like mining, natural gas and exploring of traditional knowledge.