BMC deletes Dia Mirza’s Diwali campaign video after Mumbai BJP chief’s objection
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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed 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.
The civic body had launched the awareness campaign following a Bombay High Court directive, urging citizens to avoid firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali amid rising air pollution in Mumbai. It had roped in several public figures, including Mirza, actor Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, to record messages promoting a pollution-free festival.
Satam criticised Mirza’s participation in a post on X, writing, "We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture."
The BMC subsequently removed the video from its social media platforms. The civic body has not clarified why it took down the post.
Shinde Sena spokesperson Shaina NC also criticised the actor's inclusion, saying Diwali's cultural significance should be understood.
"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 PTI.
The deletion drew mixed reactions on social media.
Some users questioned the BMC's decision, while others supported Satam's objection. One user argued that 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."