ICC Note:

Christian leaders in the city of Bhopal, India have claimed that the government has barred them from providing assistance to children affected by an industrial accident. 32 years ago, 40 tons of poisonous gas leaked out of a plant in Bhopal. Today, children of people affected by the gas are still being born with many birth defects. Church leaders claim that the government has not given them the proper permits and licences to help these children despite having resources and expertise. Across India, Christian NGOs and charities are accused by Hindu radicals of doing aid work to force Hindus to convert to Christianity. Is this why India is not allowing these Christian leaders to help needy children? 

12/07/2016 India (UCAN) – Church leaders working in the central Indian city of Bhopal that witnessed a horrendous industrial accident 32 years ago say children continue to be born with deformities but their offer for help is not welcomed.

“We have come across birth deformities and other ailments especially among the children born to affected parents,” Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal told ucanews.com.

Bhopal Archdiocese “definitely wanted to help” such people but because of a “lack of support from the government we are unable to support them,” he said.

Some 40 tons of the poisonous gas escaped Dec. 2-3 night in 1984 from a chemical plant in the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh state capital of Bhopal.

It killed some 3,000 people in a matter of hours, and thousands more the following days.

In order to work among the affected, agencies need government permits and licenses but the church’s offer to work among them are always neglected.

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