New Delhi: US Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Froman on Thursday denied making any link between the Bhopal gas leak issue and India's request for loan help from the World Bank in an e-main communication with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
"With regard to recent reports about my private correspondence with Ahluwalia, I want to make clear that I was not making any link between what are two separate and distinct issues nor issuing a threat of any sort any assertion to the contrary is absolutely wrong, both in intent and in fact," Froman said in a statement released by the US Embassy.
"I am dismayed to think that anything I wrote could be interpreted as minimising the toll of the Bhopal disaster. The human suffering as a result of Bhopal is a terrible tragedy.
Resolving the Bhopal issue is for the Indian people to decide. The US does not seek to interfere in this process," Froman said.
His statement came against the backdrop of a controversy kicked off by his email to Ahluwalia in which he had written that "voices" regarding American company Dow Chemicals could have a "chilling" impact on the investment relations.
India is ascertaining whether Dow, which took over the Union Carbide that was involved in the 1984 Bhopal gas leak, could be held liable for payment of enhanced compensation to the victims.
"I value the opportunity I have to work with Ahluwalia and others in India to strengthen and deepen the ties between our two countries, both bilaterally and through the G20. Such efforts are key to building our strategic partnership and facing our common challenges together for the benefit of both our peoples," Froman said.
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