BMC takes down Dia Mirza's Diwali video after BJP's Satam objects; mayor says admin at fault

A civic awareness drive on an eco-friendly Diwali has become a political fight in Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deleted a video of actor and environmental activist Dia Mirza from its social media pages on Sunday, a few hours after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam objected to it.

The clip was one of several the civic body released to urge residents to keep noise and air pollution down during the festival and to follow the directions of the Bombay High Court. Mirza's was the only one removed. Videos by actors Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad and Harshada Khanvilkar, and by cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, are still on the BMC's X and Instagram accounts. The corporation, headed by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, has not explained why the video was pulled. That has led to questions about whether the campaign's approach has changed.

Satam had tagged the BMC on X and written: "We do not need to learn from Dia Mirza how to celebrate Diwali. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture." Asked about it later, he said his objection had nothing to do with religious identity and was about nationalism. He called Mirza part of an "anti-India gang" and alleged that she was trying to destabilise the country. He said: "We did not need a sermon from her on celebrating Diwali. Since the Opposition has also joined hands with anti-India forces, its support or sympathy for its partner in this attempt to spread anarchy is natural."

Mirza has defended the video. She said it was meant to encourage responsible celebration and to spread awareness about pollution. "Diwali is the festival of the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. This video was recorded for awareness in the public interest, so that Diwali is celebrated in a healthier and wiser way. Air pollution is a public health issue, and every effort to reduce it is a step towards a better environment for everyone," she said.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawade addressed the matter on Monday. She said none of the celebrities had been paid for their videos. In her view, the list of participants should have been put before her, but administrative officials uploaded the videos straight to the BMC portal. "The administration is certainly at fault in this," she said. Asked why Mirza alone had been singled out, Tawade said Mumbai takes all religions and castes along, but called this a matter linked to Hindutva. She said BJP workers would respond firmly to anyone who speaks against Hindutva, whatever their religion, creed or caste.

Tawade added: "Dia Mirza has earlier opposed the Narmada project, the UCC and even statements by Prime Minister Modi. Dia Mirza should not tell Hindus how to celebrate Diwali. Her selective agenda is clear, and it is also clear that she is against Hindutva." She also made it plain that Mirza would not be part of any official BMC event. Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi has reportedly supported Mirza, but Tawade said she was stating the position of all BJP corporators.

The Opposition has hit back. Kishori Pednekar, Leader of the Opposition in the BMC and a former mayor, questioned why the video was removed on Satam's objection. "Who exactly is Amit Satam? Why is he so active in the functioning of the municipal corporation? The corporation must answer this! If the corporation has begun deleting its tweets out of fear of an MLA like Amit Satam, it would be better to remove the corporation itself!" she said.

AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also went after Satam on X. "Mr Ameet Satam, why are you targeting only Dia Mirza, when Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad also made the same appeal on behalf of the BMC? Same appeal, same High Court direction, yet a different reaction? This is not standing up for tradition, it is selective outrage and a clear double standard. Why is Dia Mirza your target? Is it because her name is Dia Mirza?" he wrote.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the row should not be viewed through the lens of any one community. He said the Constitution framed under Dr B.R. Ambedkar lets every religion celebrate its festivals. Athawale said: "As I understand it, Dia Mirza is a film actor and belongs to the Muslim community, but this is not a matter of any particular community. India is a country where the Constitution given by Dr B.R. Ambedkar gives every religion the right to celebrate its festivals. Just as Muslims celebrate Eid and observe Ramzan, people of the Hindu community also take part in these celebrations. They respect the way Muslims celebrate their festivals. In the same way, Hindus celebrate Diwali. If firecrackers are not burst, the significance of Diwali may diminish somewhat. But we should also be concerned about excessive pollution."

Shiv Sena national spokesperson Shaina NC urged citizens to be mindful of pollution and to put health and safety first during the festival. She said: "Dia Mirza, whose very name means light, should know that Diwali is called the festival of lights. Every citizen understands that it is important to be mindful of pollution and not burst firecrackers, so that we remain safe, because life and health come first."

Civic activist Zoru Bhathena said the debate had moved away from the environmental message to the person delivering it. "Amit Satam has a problem not with the message but with the person spreading it. Satam has in the past too raised issues only on communal grounds," he said.

Sumaira Abdulali, founder of Awaaz Foundation, which works against noise pollution, asked whether a politician can simply overturn BMC work done under court directions. She said the Bombay High Court has clearly stated that celebrities should be brought in without an honorarium to spread social messages.

The row comes against the backdrop of a September order of the Bombay High Court. While hearing a matter during Ganeshotsav, a bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale banned the bursting of firecrackers on public roads, by day and by night. The bench said festivals should be celebrated without noise and air pollution, and called the use of loudspeakers, DJs and laser beams in religious processions "totally unnecessary". The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the heavy noise and air pollution caused by processions. It said firecrackers on roads are dangerous and add to toxic pollution.

The court observed: "Are all these loudspeakers and firecrackers going to bring us extra blessings from God? As a responsible society, we must stop all this." It also said: "There should be no firecrackers at all."