Why “Justice for Jessica” only???

Media is patting its back; activists are smiling and the general public happy about what they achieved. This is the general sense after the court found Manu Sharma guilty of murdering model Jessical Lal seven years ago.

My reaction - what a shameful day for media, activists and us. Shocked, baffled about my statement? Read on…

A cold night of Dec in year 1984. A beautiful city, filled with lakes, was converted into gas chamber. Yes I am talking about Bhopal. On the night of 3rd December, 1984, 40 tonnes of highly toxic Methyl Iso Cyanide got released from the tank of Union Carbide factory (now owned by Dow Chemicals). Initially 3,000 people died and over the years till now more than 20,000 people have died (Greenpeace figures). Average amount paid per dead person USD 2,200.

Till today, neither the officials nor its employees have been prosecuted. Warren Anderson who was CEO of Union Carbide is a declared fugitive but United States Govt. has not handed him over for prosecution.

(http://en.wikipedia..org/wiki/Bhopal_Disaster)

Case Status: Awaiting Justice

There are countless cases where people who committed crimes are walking free, be it gangsters, politicians or people in uniform. They are free. Not held accountable for the crimes they committed.

Where were those 2 lakh Indians who signed NDTV’s petition against lower courts’ acquittal of Manu Sharma, when other criminals were let off the hook? Why did media only propagate and make a big issue for the Jessica Lal,or Nitish Katara murder cases? Is the life of a model, a politician’s son or an industrialist more valuable than those who sleep on the roads?

We (media and us) should not be happy just because 1 person out of those thousands has been convicted. Those who were active in bringing Manu Sharma back to court now have a responsibility to bring justice to all those who have been denied it. After all, justice cannot be only for some chosen few.