Washington: Founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Frank Pallone, has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives recognising the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster and expressing Congress' commitment to working with the Indian Government to ensure that Union Carbide is held responsible for its actions.

The New Jersey Congressman who introduced the legislation last night (Sep 30, 20040 said the Bhopal disaster was "widely regarded as the worst peacetime environmental catastrophe in world history".

He said the resolution expressed "our (Congress) commitment to work with the Indian Government" and others, including Dow Chemical corporation to ensure that "Union Carbide provides environmental and medical rehabilitation in Bhopal and is held responsible for its actions".

Both the United States and India should come together to recognise the gravity of the Bhopal disaster, the Congressman said.

The legislation also called on Union Carbide to completely restore the polluted plant site to a habitable condition, fully remediate the drinking water supply, and to appear before the Bhopal District Court for prosecution on the criminal charges pending against it. Pallone is a leading advocate in Congress on behalf of Bhopal victims' rights and has worked closely with the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.