Bombay HC asks BMC to re-upload Dia Mirza’s pollution-free Diwali video, slams 'loose comments' by politicians
PTC Web Desk: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for taking down a pollution-free Diwali video featuring actor Dia Mirza. It also objected to the remarks some politicians made about the matter.
A Bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said Mumbai runs on a spirit of togetherness and that careless comments should not upset that balance. The hearing came a day after Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and city BJP president Ameet Satam objected to Dia Mirza’s role in the campaign.
Without naming anyone, the court said it was disturbed by the comments aimed at celebrities who had backed the BMC’s awareness drive on the noise and air pollution caused by firecrackers. The Bench pointed out that the BMC had launched the campaign on the High Court’s own suggestions.
The judges said the civic body had taken effective steps and that the celebrities had sent out a message of unity. According to the court, there was no room for division in an effort made with such seriousness. It said India was a secular country and that the court was hurt by the controversy. The issue was about the environment, it added, and everyone, whatever their religion or caste, breathed the same air.
The Bench said it would be ideal for the BMC to restore the deleted video, but left the final decision to the civic body. The court also said re-uploading it would help bring back people’s trust in the Constitution.
What led to the row
For the campaign, the BMC had recorded video messages from several public figures, including Dia Mirza, actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad, and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane. The videos explained how firecrackers harm health and asked people to help reduce noise and air pollution.
Dia Mirza’s video was taken down on Sunday. The videos of Madhuri Dixit, Wad and Rahane stayed up on the BMC’s X and Instagram pages.
The removal followed a post on X by Satam, who questioned why Mirza was being allowed to teach people how to celebrate Diwali. He said the community does not need such lessons because its traditions are deeply rooted in its culture. The BMC deleted the video within hours and gave no explanation.
Mayor Tawde supported the decision and accused the actor of being opposed to Hindutva.
Dia Mirza defended her role. She told news agency ANI that she did not understand why anyone would criticise a video made in the public interest at the direction of the High Court and the BMC. Air pollution is a public health issue, she said, and efforts to cut it should be welcomed.
The row also led to political reactions. The BJP alleged that Hindu festivals were being singled out in the name of protecting the environment. Opposition leaders asked whether the BMC had given in to political pressure by removing the video.
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