LDALL BHOPAL 2LST

Lall, former Joint Director who was in-charge of the
probe, had Tuesday said he was asked by the Ministry of
External Affairs officials not to follow extradition of
Anderson when the gas leak took place 26 years ago.
Rao recalled that there was a lot of correspondence
between the CBI and the MEA and also between the MEA and the
US government.
"In the course of such correspondence, there may
have been a letter from the MEA saying that the US is not
allowing the extradition of Anderson. But I can say that at
no point was there any pressure on the CBI from the MEA to
drop the case," Rao asserted.
When questioned about the claim made by Lall, Rao
said, "Asking him (Lall) is not the question but asking the
CBI is the issue".
Neither the Government of India, the CBI nor the MEA
had ever given up on the extradition of Anderson, Rao said
adding, "We have always pursued it. But even after repeated
attempts we were hitting a wall in the case".
Adding another twist, the then Supreme Court Chief
Justice A H Ahmadi who had delivered the Bhopal gas tragedy
case verdict in 1996, Wednesday said he could not recollect
whether a review petition was filed. He had earlier stated
in a television interview that no review petition was filed.
In Delhi, the Centre announced the reconstitution of
a GoM under Home Minister P Chidambaram to examine all issues
relating to Bhopal gas leakage, including remedial measures
and make appropriate recommendations on the relief and
rehabilitation of the victims and their families.
Other members of GoM will be Health Minister Ghulam
Nabi Azad, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, Urban Development
Minister S Jaipal Reddy, Transport Minister Kamal Nath,
Chemicals Minister M K Alagiri, Tourism Minister Selja,
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and MoS in PMO Prithviraj
Chavan.
The Group, which was earlier headed by former
minister Arjun Singh, will have Madhya Pradesh Minister in
charge of rehabilitation will be a permanent invitee. PTI