I encountered some technical difficulty in commenting on your post. However, here is my comment:

The 9/11 and the Bhopal gas tragedy are extreme cases and a comparison might not do justice of the victims of either. While Bhopal was a case of government being a party to the crime implicitly by its lackadaisical attitude, the 9/11 is supposedly a case of government being actively involved in the crime itself. Several theories and evidences including the absence of Jews in the WTC building (apparently all had gone on casual leave on that fateful day) hints at something murkier and scary. Hence it is not at all surprising that $7 billion was spent on 5560 victims and family members. It might simply be to silence so many voices. On the contrary, the Federal Government’s response (same government) to the victims of Hurricane Katrina was deplorable.

On the other hand, India’s response to the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy is also condemnable. But the problem is deeper. As a nation, we don’t stand up for law and justice and we genuflect on such matters to the ones who wield power and clout. But at the same time, we are caught in the trap of procedures. Warren Anderson was arrested and released on bail on the 7th December 1984. He then fled only to never return again. How could he be released on bail. Even if he was, how could he be allowed to fly out? He lives happily in New York while the victims are still grappling with hope. To them all, Osho words on hope is extremely apt. He said, “all hopes are false.”

Had a similar crime happened in China or Israel, Anderson would have had to deal with a different fate altogether. Let us not forget the famous arms dropping case where the suspects were released after Vladimir Putin intervened. Why did we let them go? Why did the ruling dispensation make everything easy for Quotorrochi to go free? It is a besmirch on the nation. But who cares? Even we don’t? If we do government would dare to behave this way. One year after the attack on the Taj Hotel, the country is feeding Kasab and will do so for the rest of his life. Any harsh punishment on him will invite vitriolic responses from human rights activists. Remember Afzal Guru? Yes, his life to a few is far more valuable than the men in uniform. In a democracy, the citizens will only have to look at the mirror to know who the criminals are. Ours is a country where criminals fight elections from behind the bars. Till the time we are like this, we don’t deserve anything better. Its not about how much the government values our lives, it is more about how much we value ourselves and guard our self-respect.

Prasanna Karthik