Day 10 of the Hunger Strike for Justice in Bhopal
On the 10th day of the hunger strike, the Delhi weather and the bureaucracy remain unrelenting. The high temperatures and humidity have done little to dampen the spirit at the protest site. Sunday being a quiet day was reserved for friends and family.
One of the survivors recounted an amusing anecdote, and was soon followed by others with their numerous, and sometimes incredible, anecdotes that kept the gathering in splits. The initiator remembered how he was to board a crowded train at Katni station. Unable to get into the compartment, he set the passengers in a panic by shouting out that there was a snake in the compartment. Within no time, the compartment emptied out, and our protagonist found himself a comfortable place to lie down and go to sleep. Awakening next morning to the reassuring sound of Chai, ChaiE(Tea, Tea), our protagonist got out of the compartment rubbing his eyes to find out that the compartment was still at Katni Station. It turns out, that the compartment was delinked from the rest of the train because there was a snake in the train. Tara Bai, the youngest hunger striker, was a hit with her real-life anecdotes lightening the mood of the crowd.
All three satyagrahis were in stable medical condition although all of them had lost substantial weight over the last 24 hours. Rasheeda Bee lost 2 kg; Sathyu 1.5 kg and Tara Bai 1 kg. Their blood sugar levels too were low at 80, 70 and 60 respectively. Tara Bai complained of cramps in her calf, weakness in the body and dizziness.ERasheedas health is not as bad.EAnd Sathyu says he feels better than yesterday.E
All three remain resolved to see this issue through to its resolution.
This evening, survivors will meet the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Justice Verma, to brief him about the ongoing developments and submit a memorandum. We learnt a while ago that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh is in New Delhi to attend a meeting organised by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry). A small team of supporters have left to attempt to attend the meeting and demand his presence at the satyagraha site.
Meanwhile, preparations are afoot to mobilise long-time Bhopal supporters for a show-of-strength on 10 July in New Delhi. Friends in Mumbai, UK, USA and Bangalore, and survivor groups in Bhopal have also confirmed that there will be solidarity actions in these cities directed against the Government and Dow Chemical. Should any of you be interested in participating, kindly contact
1. Mumbai: c/o Vinod Shetty: 6514211
2. Bangalore: c/o Manu Gopalan:
mgopalan@dialb.greenpeace.org 3. Trivandrum: c/o Thanal. 311896 or
thanal@vsnl.com 4. USA:
ntangri@essential.org 5. UK:
tim@lifecycle.demon.co.uk If youre not able to plan a support activity on 10th, do try and organise something for any date between 11 and 16 July.
For up-to-date information on the campaign and its progress, visit
www.corpwatchindia.org
www.indiatogether.org
Nityanand Jayaraman & E. Deenadayalan
For the National Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
nity68@vsnl.com admin@del3.vsnl.net.in 
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