CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: Mumbai. The controversy over actor Dia Mirza’s video appealing to people not to burst firecrackers on Diwali and to protect the environment has now reached the Bombay High Court. The court expressed displeasure over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removing the video, termed it unfortunate, and directed the civic body to upload the video again on its social media platforms. The court said a campaign linked to public interest and environmental awareness should not be made the subject of unnecessary controversy.
During the hearing, a division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale said the court was hurt by remarks made by some political leaders. The bench recalled that India is a secular country and that the issue of the environment and air pollution is not linked to any one religion. Every citizen breathes the same air, and therefore it is not appropriate to give such a campaign a religious colour, the bench said.
The BMC had prepared videos featuring several artists and well-known personalities to make people aware of the harmful effects of air and noise pollution during Diwali. In one such video, Dia Mirza appealed to people not to burst firecrackers on public roads and to celebrate the festival in an environment-friendly manner. The campaign was being run in line with earlier directions of the Bombay High Court.
However, after objections from Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam and some other leaders, the BMC removed Dia Mirza’s video from its social media account. The move also drew opposition at the political and social levels.
The High Court said the objective of the video was to spread awareness about environmental protection and public interest. The court asked the BMC to upload it again and observed that Mumbai’s identity is defined by mutual harmony and unity, which should not be affected by irresponsible remarks.
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