Government of India logs complaint against Dow Chemical Company – London Olympics 2012
The government of India has officially logged a formal complaint with the Union Sports Ministry against the partnership of Dow Chemical Company and the London Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (LOCOG).
The complaint has been addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Dow Chemical Company is responsible for one of the worst industrial disasters that has taken place yet. The incident took place in 1984 when a gas leak from the factory of Union Carbide Corporation, which was later bought by Dow Chemical, caused the
deaths of thousands local residents in Bhopal. Not only that, the effects of the toxic gas continued to cause birth defects in children born to the local residents.
The Dow Chemical Company paid a specific amount to the Indian government as well as the residents of Bhopal but that amount was deemed to be insufficient compared with the extent of tragedy that had taken place.
Therefore, the Dow Chemical Company was asked to pay off its liabilities but the matter has not reached a settlement yet.
The complaint made by the Indian government is another step in the protest that has been coming from the Indian quarters. The initial complaints to the IOC as well as the London 2012 organizers were made by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Vijay Kumar Malhotra, who is the acting President of the IOA, had communicated in the letter with the president of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, in the following manner, “A false campaign has been launched by the Dow Chemical's saying that matter has been settled.
It is not correct. The case is still pending in the court and no final compensation has been made. It is IOA's considered opinion that Dow Chemical's should be removed as the sponsors of the Games.”
After the complaint against the Dow Chemical was filed by the Indian government, the IOA also gave a statement in which it made the suggestion that in case the IOC still does not end its partnership with the company, the Indian delegation may some action
to register its protest. The protest however will not take the form of a boycott from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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