BHOPAL: Former Hockey Olympian and ex-Union Minister Aslam Sher Khan today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to ensure that Dow Chemical is not entrusted sponsorship of 2012 London Olympic Games.
“Dow Chemical has acquired Union Carbide Corporation — the firm responsible for the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. Hence it cannot escape responsibility in the matter,” Mr Khan told media here. Claiming that 24 lawmakers in Britain registered their protest with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), he said he has written to Ms Gandhi on November 24 that the Centre should also register its protest against Dow Chemical’s sponsorship.
Mr Khan said he had written to the Prime Minister over the same matter on August 15. Besides, he has written to Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken and the Indian Olympic Association.
Pointing out that South Africa and then Soviet Union had boycotted Olympic Games over issues pertaining to their country, he said the Centre must make its stand clear over the issue.
Alleging that Dow Chemical is sponsoring the London Olympic Games to project clean image before the world, the ex-MP said he will not hesitate from launching agitation like social activist Anna Hazare over the issue. He will organise public meetings in this regard in the state capital in December, Mr Khan warned.
He said he will raise the matter during a meeting of former Olympians organised by the IOA in New Delhi on December 12.
Thousands were killed and lakhs were maimed in the tragedy that occurred on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, at the Bhopal unit of Union Carbide Corporation. (UNI)