New Delhi, August 11: Breaking his silence for the first time Arjun Singh the senior leader of Congress and the then Chief Minister said in Rajya Sabha that every body is interpreting Bhopal gas tragedy in his own way, though it was he who got Anderson arrested. He also gave clean chit to late Rajiv Gandhi in the matter.
Absolving himself of all the charges he said that it was he who gor Anderson arrested.All the debates are there only because I got him arrested. I was amazed at his audacity that after such a tragedy Anderson decided to enter Punjab. I gave written order myself for his arrest and as soon as he landed on the airport, SP Shivpuri arrested him. Singh further said that the man(Anderson) was wondering why the CM is not there to welcome him,told Mr Singh.
He said that soon after the incident I contacted Rajiv Gandhi,the then Prime Minister. As he was out on tour I contacted DG of CSIR to help the victims. By next morning the CSIR team was there to help but the intensity of gas leak has lessened by them.
It is very comfortable to talk after 26 years of the accident but it pricks my heart to think about them,said Singh
This November when American President is coming to India our government will surely raise the issue and try to expedite Anderson’s extradition,added Arjun Singh.
Giving clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi Arjun Singh said that for two days that Rajivji was there he never talked to me about release of Anderson and those who blame him for this is doing it out of figment of imagination.
Arjun hinted that the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh received many calls from Union Home Minstry but Rajivji never told any thing.I even offered to quit but Rajiv Gandhi wanted me to continue,said Mr Singh.
“The Chief Secretary informed me that there have been persistent calls for granting bail to Mr Anderson from Home Ministry officials in Delhi,” said Singh, who was then the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, pointing fingers at Rao, who was then the Union Home Minister.
Singh, who did not not share a good relationship with Rao during his days as HRD Minister in Rao’s Cabinet at the Centre later, said he had ordered the arrest of Anderson and wanted it to be recorded so that he could be produced before courts when needed.
—Agencies