Mumbai, Nov 2 Actor Dia Mirza’s video for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s eco-friendly Diwali campaign sparked a political row on Monday, after the civic body selectively removed her clip from social media following a BJP leader’s objection and Mayor Ritu Tawde’s comments labelling her as “anti-Hindu”.
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 Mirza.
While her clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed on Sunday, campaign videos featuring actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad, as well as cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, have been retained on the BMC’s X and Instagram pages.
Within hours of BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam’s comment, the civic body led by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide removed Mirza’s video from its social media pages.
“We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate #Diwali from @deespeak. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture,” the BJP leader wrote.
According to officials, the civic body had approached Mirza to participate in the campaign against firecrackers, and she voluntarily recorded and sent a video appeal without any fee.
A civic official said the actor’s appeal, in which she urged people to be mindful of the environment and public health while celebrating Diwali, was posted on the BMC’s official X handle at 8.25 am on Sunday, and was taken down later the same night.
Mirza was among the most deserving celebrities to be associated with the campaign, given her work in the field of environment, officials said, adding that they had not anticipated the backlash.
The UN Environment Programme has appointed Mirza as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India.
An upset Mirza said in a post on social media, “Koi paise nahi liye hain. Bhalai ka zamana hee nahi raha (I did not charge any fee for the Diwali campaign. There is no goodness left in this era).
Talking to reporters, Mayor Tawde alleged that Mirza has always sided with divisive forces, and had trolled PM Modi on the NEET exam issue.
“She has always been anti-Hindu. We have blacklisted her,” she added.
“We do not need Dia Mirza to teach how Hindus should celebrate Diwali. We know how to celebrate our Diwali. You (Mirza) are pursuing your own agenda, a selective agenda, and your overall stance is becoming very clear. It shows that you are against Hindutva. That is why we have strongly opposed the video,” she said.
When contacted, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi questioned the need to remove the actor’s appeal, saying he did not find anything objectionable in her message.
The BMC’s post accompanying Mirza’s video had stated that in accordance with the High Court’s directives, bursting firecrackers on public roads, lanes and footpaths was strictly prohibited.
The BMC’s move of taking down the video invited the ire of the opposition, while the ruling BJP slammed the selective targeting of Hindu festivals.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson and former mayor Kishori Pednekar questioned whether the civic administration had “become a slave of the BJP or its Mumbai president”.
Satam’s interference in the civic body’s day-to-day functioning is increasing with each passing day, she alleged, adding that the administration should not have succumbed to what she termed the BJP leader’s “communal agenda”.
MNS corporator Yashwant Killedar slammed Satam, saying that if the BJP Mumbai president was so fond of firecrackers, party office-bearers should burst as many crackers as they wished outside his residence.
“Our Diwali can be celebrated even by lighting a single lamp and a lantern. Does the BJP approve of Satam’s brand of ‘hypocritical Hindutva’ that supports bursting firecrackers in the name of religion?” he asked.
BJP minister Nitesh Rane said, “Dia Mirza tweeted about Diwali, but she never tweets or offers such advice during Eid, Muharram or Bakri Eid.”
“People like her are against the Sanatan Hindu religion. I will discuss this issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and focus on preventing such matters in the future,” he said.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC said, “Dia Mirza, whose name itself means light, should know that the Festival of Lights refers to Diwali. Everyone knows the need to be mindful of pollution and avoid bursting firecrackers.”
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that if firecrackers are not burst, Diwali may lose some of its significance. However, we must also be concerned about excessive pollution.
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad alleged that the civic body had removed the video under pressure from the BJP and demanded the ouster of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.
She said that the municipal commissioner, as a civil servant, was responsible for protecting the constitutional values of equality and secularism.
She demanded that the BMC immediately restore Mirza’s video and issue an unconditional public apology to the actor.
The NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto noted that the civic body had approached Mirza to endorse and voice the HC’s directives to spread awareness about pollution.
“Ameet Satam should stop thinking that he is above the law, just because he is in the government. The BMC asked Dia Mirza to endorse and voice the Hon’ble High Court’s directives. What was Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde doing when Mirza’s video was being made by the BMC?” he said.
(PTI News)
