Mumbai, Nov 2 Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Monday supported the BMC’s move to delete a video featuring actor Dia Mirza from its pollution-free Diwali campaign, asserting that “we do not need Dia Mirza to teach how Hindus should celebrate Diwali”.
Tawde, addressing a press conference at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, also accused Mirza of consistently opposing Hindutva, and speaking against the Narmada project in Gujarat, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“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,” Tawde said.
“If we look at Dia Mirza’s entire profile, we can see that she has opposed the Narmada project and the Uniform Civil Code. She has also spoken against environmental issues that we were working on and opposed statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have consistently seen her opposition directed against Hindutva and those who work for it,” the mayor further claimed.
Tawde further reiterated that the BMC should not feature anyone in campaigns without approval from the mayor’s office.
Mirza is free to express her views through her personal social media account, the BJP leader added.
Mirza’s clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed on Sunday after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to it in a post on X, tagging the BMC’s official account.
“We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate #Diwali from @deespeak. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture,” the BJP MLA wrote.
However, 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.
(PTI News)
