BJP leader calls out Mumbai civic body over Diwali campaign featuring Dia Mirza

The BMC had appealed to citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali following a Bombay High Court directive amid rising air pollution in the city. As part of the campaign, the civic body roped in several celebrities, including Dia Mirza.

In Short

• BMC ropes in celebrities for anti-firecracker Diwali campaign
• Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam opposed Dia Mirza’s inclusion as outsider
• BMC removed video without official explanation, sparking social media debate

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deleted a video featuring actor Dia Mirza from its pollution-free Diwali campaign after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to her inclusion, triggering a political controversy over the civic body's awareness drive.

The BMC had appealed to citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali following a Bombay High Court directive amid rising air pollution in the city.

As part of the campaign, the civic body roped in several celebrities, including Dia Mirza, Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, to record video messages urging people to celebrate a pollution-free festival.

However, Satam criticised the inclusion of Dia Mirza, objecting to what he described as outsiders offering lessons on how to celebrate Diwali.

In a post on X, the Mumbai BJP chief wrote, "We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture."

Following Satam's criticism, the BMC removed the video from its social media platforms.

The civic body has not issued any clarification on why the video was deleted.

Also reacting to the development, Shinde Sena spokesperson Shaina NC said Diwali was the festival of lights and that the actor should understand its cultural significance.

"Diwali is clearly the festival of lights and to Dia Mirza, whose name has a diya, she should understand too that there is a certain kind of cultural identity with Diwali. Nobody is propagating you know, pollution or bursting crackers, but we need to introspect that ourselves. We don't need a lesson in what we should be doing as Mumbaikars from others," she told news agency PTI.

The BMC's decision has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with several users questioning why the video was removed, while others praised Satam for speaking out.

"Mumbai gave BMC to BJP? Does Ritu Tawde have any control over BMC or is it all Open Darbar? Why do people need to outrage to wake up BJP? The ecosystem keeps pushing its agenda even when out of power. BJP doesn’t know how to use power even after 12 years. Frustrating," a user posted on X.

Another user pointed to how cultural traditions evolve over time, writing, "Sati was our culture. Vidhava Marriage was not our culture. Cultures have changed with time. This may too... We are always evolving. Change is the only constant."

Others backed Satam, with one user posting, "Thanks Ameet ji for shouting it out," while another simply wrote, "great."

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