Indian state calls for boycott of London Games

NEW DELHI - The chief minister of the central Indian state Madhya Pradesh has called for boycott of the London Olympics if the Union Carbide's successor Dow Chemicals remains as a sponsor of the event, local media reported Monday.

The capital Bhopal of the state saw a huge tragedy in 1984 when a poisonous gas leak from the US Union Carbide killed tens of thousands.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday that India is now an economic superpower and not a weak country anymore, so " either Dow should be removed from the sponsorship of Olympics or India should not participate".

Dow Chemicals bought over Union Carbide India Ltd and has become a sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics.