Bhopal gas victims asks Indian Olympic Association to boycott London Olympics

New Delhi, Dec 14 (ANI): Bhopal gas tragedy victims and a member of India's world cup winning hockey team met Indian Olympic Association president in New Delhi on Wednesday to demand the boycott of London Olympics in the wake of Dow Chemicals' sponsorship of the event.

Aslam Sher Khan, president of the Olympian Association of India and part of the 1975 world champion team, along with gas victims, met the acting president of the Indian Olympic Association Vijay Kumar Malhotra to submit a petition signed by 1,100 gas victims and sportsmen opposing India's participation in the event.

They demanded that New Delhi should boycott 2012 London Olympics due to the event's sponsorship by Dow Chemicals linked to the 1984 Bhopal gas leak tragedy, world's worst industrial disaster.

"The Olympic Games that are going to be held in London include a company called Dow Chemicals', which has given a sponsorship of rupees 620 million rupees. After committing such a huge blunder in Bhopal, on what basis is Dow Chemicals, which has taken over Union Carbide as its new owner, is being allowed to be part of the games," said Rashida Bi, an activist.

Former Indian hockey player Aslam Sher Khan added that inclusion of Dow Chemicals' in the Games would hurt the sentiments of the entire nation.

"Our government and our Olympic committee should build pressure on the organising committee of London on behalf of Bhopal and the entire country to remove Dow Chemicals from the sponsorship of London Olympics. Otherwise, it will not only hurt the sentiments of people of Bhopal, but of the entire nation," said Khan.

Meanwhile, Malhotra assured that the government would take a firm stand on the issue.

"having this tainted company as one of the sponsors will put London Olympics in bad reflection throughout the world. And we will definitely ... tomorrow is our meeting of the Executive Board and AGM, we will take a tough stand and write to them that they should be removed from the Games," said Malhotra.

However, he refused to comment upon the victims demand of boycotting the Games and added that it would be decided after deliberations with the government.

The row has sparked a serious debate amongst sportsmen and officials as some believe it to be a matter of national pride and that the guilty company should be brought to book, while some believe it is difficult for players to give up their Olympic dream. (ANI)