Bangalore: India is being encouraged to participate in the forthcoming 2012 Olympics in London by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Ajay Maken, as stated in The Hindu. Mr. Maken said this in response to the 2012 Olympics being sponsored by Dow Chemical, which owns Union Carbide, instrumental in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Mr. Maken also said that it would serve the case of the gas victims better if the Indians athletes participated in the events and made a strong statement against Dow in London itself through symbolic gestures.

Mr. Maken quoted, “We have written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) saying that they take up the matter with International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOA should keep in mind the sensitivity around this issue in India and especially in Bhopal.” He also said that the IOA should make an effort to end the sponsorship and wanted it to strongly take up the issue at the highest level.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to ask the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry to raise the controversial matter of Dow Chemical sponsorship for the London Olympics 2012 with IOC. This has been ordered to be done through the National Olympic Committee, in view of the strong public opinion within India.

IOA Acting President, Mr. V.K. Malhotra, said that, “We will discuss this issue in our Executive Board and General Body Meeting on December 15. We will try to make Games organizers aware of the feeling of the people who have suffered due to that tragedy” and “It is not only the Indians who are protesting this sponsorship, there has been an outcry against this world over from various NGOs and other bodies, it is no longer a local issue.”

According to BBC, IOA said that it would "make the organizers aware of the feelings of the people who have suffered." In a letter to the IOA, the Sports Ministry said, "Strong public sentiment exists in this matter” and that a number of eminent ex-Olympians have also raised their concerns. It also said, "We would advise the Indian Olympic Association to raise this matter immediately with the IOC while keeping the government informed."