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Ancy K Sunny
Ancy K Sunny

CONTROVERSY

How the firecracker ban snowballed into a communal issue on Twitter

chetan-bhagat Chetan Bhagat

Taking into account massive air pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Monday banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR till November 1. Delhi's pollution levels reach dangerous limits during Diwali celebrations. According to a 2016 National Air Quality Index, Delhi breathed in air polluted with particulate matter of up to 14 to 16 times the acceptable limits on Diwali night.

As usual, Twitter went berserk with comments, debates and memes. While most debates initially were around the idea of banning or regulating use of fireworks during festivities, it took on a religious hue later. Debates on safety of children and pollution soon snowballed into a Hindu-Muslim debate.

Author Chetan Bhagat can very well be credited with triggering the controversy. After the SC ruling, he tweeted: “SC bans fireworks on Diwali? A full ban? What's Diwali for children without crackers?” Well, that doesn't sound controversial enough. Wait till you see the subsequent tweets. He asked if the Supreme Court would ban Christmas trees on Christmas or goat slaughter on Bakr-Eid.

While many joined in to agree that Hindus were being targeted, #CommunalCracker was used widely to argue on the issue.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pitched in with a reply to Bhagat, terming firecrackers 'unholy addons'.

To which, Chetan replied: "And w all respect who decides on what makes a part of a celebration, done for generations, suddenly unholy? And the courts should ban it?"

Journalist Nidhi Razdan, too, faced flak on Twitter for her comment on the #CommunalCracker debates. She tweeted: "Only in India can a real debate on pollution and health turn into a communal issue. Really incredible."

Amid all the cacophony, a section of Twitterati urged fellow users not to communalise Diwali.

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Topics : #social media

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