The Madhya Pradesh government appears to have forgotten that, way back in December, it had announced — amid much fanfare — a judicial inquiry into the Bhopal gas leak disaster that had claimed over 2,000 lives. The terms of reference for the inquiry were announced on December 6, three days after the tragedy, and the single-member commission, headed by Justice N K Singh of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was asked to submit its report by March 15. The commission’s report is nowhere in sight.

Longowal Visit

The Akali Dal chief, Harchand Singh Longowal, will be arriving in New Delhi on April 26 for a three-day visit. According to the tentative plan, he will meet the office-bearers of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, the People’s Union for Democratic Rights, and the Nagrik Ekta Manch. He will hold talks with former CJI S M Sikri and V M Tarkunde.

NAM & Namibia

The non-aligned countries are proposing to take the issue of Namibian independence again before the UNSC, seeking reassertion of the earlier resolution of the Council through stiffer action including the imposition of economic sanctions against South Africa. The special session of the non-aligned countries on Namibia, being attended by over 80 countries, provides an opportunity for the expression of solidarity among the member countries.