Chairman and CEO of Dow Chemicals Andrew Liveris will not attend the Indo-U.S. CEO Business Forum meeting scheduled to be held here today.
“He is not attending because of his prior engagement,” Dow spokesperson told PTI.
A high-level Indian delegation led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee alongwith Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Deputy Chairman’s Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and prominent corporate leaders from India will be attending the meeting.
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In 1999, Dow Chemical Company bought the Union Carbide which was responsible for the world’s worst industrial disaster in 1984 - the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
Dow washed its hands of any liability for the tragedy which occurred when toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on December 3, 1984, killing about 15,000 people while injuring at least five lakh others.
Earlier, this month a local court in India convicted eight accused in the disaster. Disappointed with the verdict, activists, who have been fighting for justice for the families of victims renewed their demands for extradition of Warren Anderson, who was the UCIL chairman during the disaster and now lives in USA.
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Dow spokesperson claimed that Liveris’ absence has got nothing to do with the ongoing Bhopal controversy.
“Absolutely not and in no way related (to Bhopal controversy) as to why he cannot attend the CEO forum meeting, he already had a commitment that he could not move for this meeting otherwise he would be there,” the spokesman added.