Dia Mirza Firecracker Video: Bombay HC Slams Politicians, Orders BMC to Restore Clip
The Bombay High Court slams political leaders and orders BMC to re-upload Dia Mirza's pollution-free Diwali awareness video.
The Bombay High Court has stepped in to resolve a heated controversy surrounding a public awareness campaign for a pollution-free Diwali. The court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload a video featuring Bollywood actor Dia Mirza, which had been removed from social media following a backlash from political leaders.
Court Reminds Leaders of India's Secular Fabric
During the proceedings, a bench consisting of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr Neela Gokhale expressed strong displeasure over the comments made by certain politicians regarding the actress's participation in the campaign. The court noted that it was "troubled" by such remarks and took the opportunity to remind the political figures that India is a secular nation.
The Spark of Controversy
The issue began when the BMC launched a campaign to encourage an eco-friendly Diwali, aimed at tackling Mumbai's deteriorating air quality. This initiative followed a specific directive from the Bombay High Court. As part of the campaign, several prominent figures—including Madhuri Dixit, Ajinkya Rahane, and Nishigandha Wad—recorded messages. Dia Mirza was among them, urging citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers on public streets.
While other celebrity videos remained online, the BMC removed Mirza's clip after it drew the ire of some political leaders and social media users.
Political Clash: Traditions vs. Public Health
The removal followed sharp criticism from various political quarters:
- Ameet Satam: The Mumbai BJP chief took to X (formerly Twitter) to object to the actress's involvement, stating that the city does not need "lessons" on how to celebrate Diwali and emphasizing that traditions are deeply rooted in culture.
- Ramdas Athawale: The Union Minister criticized Mirza, arguing that the Constitution guarantees the right to celebrate festivals for all religions. He stated that bursting firecrackers is a tradition of Diwali and suggested that Mirza should focus on her acting rather than getting involved in "politically sensitive cultural issues" or posting tweets that he deemed inappropriate.
Support and Defense
In response to the backlash, Dia Mirza questioned why she was being targeted for a video recorded in the public interest at the request of the BMC and the High Court. She emphasized that air pollution is a critical public health concern and that efforts to reduce it should be welcomed by all.
The actor also found support from the political opposition. Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad accused the BJP of deliberately politicizing the issue and creating tensions. Gaikwad argued that Mirza was simply promoting a pollution-free city and that the BJP's agenda was to drag the conversation toward religion.
"I think Dia Mirza made a video about Diwali in Mumbai, showing how people celebrate it with joy, love, and affection... It's the BJP's habit to deliberately create caste tensions," Gaikwad stated.