The United States says it is prepared to give fair consideration to any fresh request from India for extradition of Union Carbide's former chief Warren Anderson in the Bhopal gas disaster. State Department spokesman P J Crowley said in Washington there was an extradition treaty between the two countries. He, however, added that he was not in a position to verify whether the US had already received any such request.<br/><br/>Immediately after a Bhopal court pronounced verdict on the tragedy on last Monday, US ruled out any new inquiries against the company. However, a US Congressman Frank Pallone had supported Anderson's extradition demand.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily has said the case against Anderson is not yet closed. Talking to reporters in Bangalore he said the Government had done its best and the delay was on the part of judiciary. He criticised former Principal secretary to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi P C Alexander for suggesting that he might have had a role in the release of former Union Carbide chief. Moily termed Alexander as a new convert to the BJP-Shiv Sena camp.<br/><br/>The then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh continues to be the target of the ruling party leaders in Anderson escapade. Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said in an email from US that Arjun Singh and the then Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh can answer this question. Senior Congress leader and the then Private Secretary to Rajiv Gandhi RK Dhavan echoing similar views.<br/><br/>Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi on Friday said there is no question of implicating the then Govrnment led by Rajiv Gandhi in this matter. She made it clear that Empowered Group of Ministers will examine all issues relating to the gas leak tragedy. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has denied any US pressure to release Warren Anderson.
News On AIR | June 12, 2010 7:15 PM
Will give Anderson case fair view: US