India urged to boycott Olympic games

A senior Indian politician has urged the country's government to boycott next year's Olympic Games in London.

The chief minister of the Madhya Pradesh region, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is unhappy that the organisers of the Games have agreed a sponsorship with Dow Chemical.

Ten years ago Dow purchased US chemical firm Union Carbide, whose plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh leaked toxic gases in December 1984 – leading to the death of almost four thousand people.

"The funds intended for sponsoring the Olympics would be far better spent in alleviating the misery suffered by the people of Bhopal," Chouhan stated.

Instead of sponsoring the Games, Chouhan believes Dow should spend the money on compensation for survivors of the world's worst industrial accident.