Currently, hundreds of Bhopali activists are braving the monsoon season in Delhi to demand compensation, medical care, legal action, and site remediation. Hundreds more are expected to join the dharna (sit-in) until their demands are met. We'll be posting the latest news on their progress here.
Chotu, whom you would remember from our six month long stay at Jantar Mantar two years ago, greeted us with hot tea at the dharna sthal where we start our protest early morning every day and pack up in the late evening. So instead of marching 800km for a month and a half, we now march some four kilometers every day between St’ Columbus school, our shelter home for the night, and Jantar Mantar. This day time protest isn’t our idea but Delhi Government’s in light of upcoming Common wealth games. If four months in advance of the Games the movement on the streets is so severely curtailed, one can easily make out what will happen in October. Possibly, in light of law and order situation, Delhi Government might come up with ‘Stay at Home at all times and enjoy the games from your idiot box’ orders. Anyways, we filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court opposing the Delhi Government ruling that prohibits all over night stays at Jantar Mantar. The matter came for hearing today and was argued for us by Adv. Prashant Bhushan. The decision is expected on Monday, 1st August.
