Dia Mirza, Amit Satam clash over BMC's pollution-free Diwali video, civic body removes it

A row has erupted over the Mumbai civic body's awareness campaign for a pollution-free Diwali. Under the campaign, actor Dia Mirza had appealed to Mumbaikars to celebrate Diwali with care for the environment. BJP leader and Mumbai president Amit Satam objected to her video, after which the civic body deleted it from its X page. Mirza has now responded to the matter.

The controversy began with air pollution appearing to rise in Mumbai at present. Smoke from Diwali firecrackers could worsen air quality further. With this in mind, the civic body started a celebrity campaign to carry the message of a pollution-free Diwali.

As part of the campaign, a video of Mirza was posted on the civic body's official X page. In it, she asked Mumbaikars to avoid the noise and air pollution caused by firecrackers. In her appeal, she said: "While celebrating the festival of Diwali, we must care for both the environment and health. The noise and air pollution caused by firecrackers is harmful to all of us. Celebrate Diwali with joy, not with noise."

Satam expressed anger over the video. He said: "Dia Mirza should not teach us how to celebrate Diwali. Diwali and our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture. Nobody should come to teach us this." He recorded his objection in these words.

Satam shared the post after 10 pm on November 1. His reaction intensified the controversy over the video. Eventually, the civic body removed Mirza's video from its X page. However, many people had reposted the video, so it is still visible on social media.

After the video was deleted, Mirza also reacted. She clarified that she had not taken any money for the campaign. Expressing displeasure, she said: "The times of doing good are gone." The controversy that began with the pollution-free Diwali awareness campaign has thus drawn even more attention.