New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed sharp exchanges between the Treasury benches and the Opposition over the disposal of the hazardous waste linked to the Union Carbide plant at Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh.
Replying to a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said the hazardous waste linked to the Union Carbide plant has been disposed of following directions of the Supreme Court.
“After the Supreme Court order, in the last two years, the Union Carbide waste has been totally disposed of,” the minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change said.
His remarks triggered a political exchange between members of the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress over the handling of the disaster and its aftermath.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh intervened and said, “We had tried, but the then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh had objected… Who was the CM (of Madhya Pradesh) in 2010? Don’t go into history”.
In 2010, the Indian government had initiated the disposal of toxic waste from the former Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, following Supreme Court directives. While 10 metric tons of waste were incinerated in 2015, the major removal of 337 metric tons of toxic waste was done in 2025.
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was earlier the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said people had long complained about toxic leakage from the Union Carbide site, alleging that the then Congress government in the state had failed to act.
“People kept complaining of leaks from Union Carbide, but the Congress government kept sleeping, and dead bodies piled up,” he said.
Yadav quipped that the Congress government couldn’t complete the work because it “did not have good intentions.” As the Minister continued his reply, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge took a jibe at him and said, “He is speaking like Modi”.
“He did not do it earlier, now after every para he says – Modi-Modi-Modi…” Kharge said.
Leader of the House J P Nadda responded to it.
“On a lighter side, he said we keep chanting ‘Modi-Modi’… we do that, but they also keep taking Modi’s name all the time.” Congress’ Pramod Tiwari quipped that the ruling party whitewashes the wrongdoings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while the Opposition highlights them.
“It is the impact of Modi ji’s good work in the country that makes you scared,” Nadda said.
The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred in December 1984 after a toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant, remains one of the world’s worst industrial disasters and continues to be a subject of political debate. PTI AO DRR
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