Bombay High Court Forces BMC to Restore Dia Mirza’s Firecracker Awareness Video After Politicians’ Religious Outcry
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The Bombay High Court pushed back hard against inflammatory remarks by politicians and ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to repost actress Dia Mirza’s video promoting firecracker restrictions, underscoring India’s secular character and the urgent need to address pollution over communal posturing.
A two-judge bench of the Bombay High Court sharply criticised comments made by some politicians about a video featuring actress Dia Mirza and ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore the clip on its social-media platform. The judges, Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr. Neela Gokhale, said they were “disturbed by the stray comments made by some politicians” and reminded everyone that “India is a secular country.”
The video, produced at the BMC’s request, was meant to raise public awareness of the court’s directives to curb firecracker use on public streets in order to reduce air pollution during Diwali. It was removed after BJP leaders objected, accusing Mirza of being “anti-Hindu” — a reaction that the court’s comments made clear was both misplaced and regressive.
Justice Kulkarni noted that the politicians had ignored an earlier court order that allowed anyone to take part in the awareness campaign, describing Mirza’s message on air pollution as “really good.” He called the subsequent objections “really unfortunate.” Justice Gokhale stressed that the issue was purely environmental, stating, “Everyone is breathing the same air, be it anyone,” and affirmed that restricting firecrackers does not infringe on the right to celebrate the festival.
Citing a Supreme Court observation that Diwali is celebrated by people of all castes and religions, the bench questioned the basis for objecting to Mirza’s participation on religious grounds. The judges directed the BMC to re-upload the video, saying the objections reflected only a minority view and should be avoided. They added that discussions on health, pollution, and the environment should not be dragged into “factionalism” and urged that the matter conclude on a “happy note and in a sense of belongingness,” highlighting Mumbai’s tradition of togetherness rather than divisive politics.