BMC deletes Dia Mirza anti-cracker video following BJP leader's objection

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation pulled down a promotional video featuring actor Dia Mirza from its social media pages after facing pushback from a local politician. Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to her participation in the civic body's clean-air campaign for Diwali.

The Objection And Takedown

In the deleted clip, Dia urged residents to limit firecrackers to help curb seasonal air pollution. Mumbai's Air Quality Index near Bandra Reclamation stands at 131, which falls into the unhealthy category. Following the Bombay High Court's directive on public safety, the civic body enlisted several notable figures to share similar messages. However, Satam criticized Dia's involvement on X, stating that citizens do not need lessons on cultural traditions. The civic body removed only her clip while keeping similar messages from other public figures online, and has not provided an explanation for the selective deletion.

Reactions And Defence

Dia defended her message by emphasizing that public health and air quality concern everyone. AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also questioned the political pushback, pointing out that other personalities made identical appeals without facing the same backlash. Dia further noted that she does not charge fees for public service announcements and has spent over ten years drawing attention to poor air quality.

Context

Local authorities frequently partner with well-known cultural figures to promote public health guidelines and court rulings during high-pollution festival seasons. These collaborations often spark public debates over the balance between traditional celebrations and environmental safety in large urban centers.