Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has questioned the removal of her BMC-approved public interest video advocating for the responsible use of firecrackers during Diwali to combat air pollution. The campaign was taken down following intense backlash from BJP leaders in Mumbai, who labeled it anti-Diwali and cited the actress's past political stances. While the move sparked a debate on cultural traditions and public health, opposition leaders criticized the decision as selective outrage given that other actors made similar appeals without facing consequences.

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has questioned the removal of her BMC-approved public interest video advocating for the responsible use of firecrackers during Diwali to combat air pollution. The campaign was taken down following intense backlash from BJP leaders in Mumbai, who labeled it anti-Diwali and cited the actress's past political stances. While the move sparked a debate on cultural traditions and public health, opposition leaders criticized the decision as selective outrage given that other actors made similar appeals without facing consequences.

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza has questioned the removal of her BMC-approved public interest video advocating for the responsible use of firecrackers during Diwali to combat air pollution. The campaign was taken down following intense backlash from BJP leaders in Mumbai, who labeled it anti-Diwali and cited the actress's past political stances. While the move sparked a debate on cultural traditions and public health, opposition leaders criticized the decision as selective outrage given that other actors made similar appeals without facing consequences.

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza on Monday questioned why her campaign video on the responsible use of firecrackers during Diwali was pulled down, after it had already been approved by the Bombay High Court and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“Why would anyone be critical of a video the Honourable Bombay High Court and the BMC have made me record in public interest? Air pollution is an area of concern, and all efforts to reduce pollution should be welcomed because it’s a matter of public health," the actress told Indian Express.

In the now-deleted video made in line with Bombay HC directives, Mirza had urged Mumbaikars to burst firecrackers responsibly, and to avoid activities that contributed to air and noise pollution. This comes as Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday stood at 95—a 'moderate' level very close to the 'poor' level—at the time of writing this article.

The video was taken down by the BMC hours after it received backlash from Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam, who criticised it for being anti-Diwali.

"We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate #Diwali from (Dia Mirza) ... Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture," he had said in an X post, after which the video was removed.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde added to this point after the video was removed by the BMC, citing the actress' alleged anti-Hindutva stance on previous issues.

"We see that (Mirza) has opposed the Narmada project and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ... She has even opposed statements made by PM Narendra Modi ... Regarding how Hindus should celebrate Diwali—we certainly do not need Dia Mirza to teach us ... The full picture is clear: you are against Hindutva. That is why we have strongly opposed her video," she told reporters.

Tawde added that the actress would also be blacklisted from all future BMC programmes, which sparked questions from AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan on whether she was being singled out due to her surname, Mirza.

"Same appeal, same High Court directive, but different reactions? That’s not standing up for tradition; that’s selective outrage and a glaring double standard," he pointed out, arguing that Madhuri Dixit, and Nishigandha Wad had made similar BMC appeal videos, but did not face backlash.

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