The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload a video featuring Bollywood actress Dia Mirza as part of its pollution-free Diwali campaign. The video had been removed from the civic body's social media accounts following objections from Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam.

The controversy began after Dia Mirza appealed to people to avoid firecrackers and reduce air and noise pollution during Diwali. The issue escalated when political leaders criticised her participation in the campaign, with Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde reportedly describing the actress as anti-Hindu.

During the hearing, the Bombay High Court expressed displeasure over the controversy and emphasised that an environmental awareness campaign should not be given a religious or political colour.

High Court Says Environmental Issues Should Not Be Politicised

A bench comprising Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr Neela Gokhale questioned the statements made by political leaders over Dia Mirza's video.

The court emphasised that India is a secular country and observed that concerns about air pollution affect everyone, irrespective of religion. It also questioned why an actress who had participated in an environmental awareness campaign in accordance with the court's directions should face objections.

The bench directed the BMC to restore the video on its social media platforms.

Court Appreciates Dia Mirza's Environmental Message

The High Court appreciated the actress's effort to raise awareness about pollution caused by firecrackers.

During the proceedings, the judges stressed that the issue should be treated as an environmental concern rather than being linked to religious identity.

The court also clarified that discouraging the use of firecrackers does not mean preventing people from celebrating Diwali. It observed that people should be free to celebrate festivals while also being mindful of their responsibility towards the environment.

How Did the Controversy Begin?

The controversy started on November 1, when the BMC shared a video featuring Dia Mirza as part of its pollution-free Diwali campaign.

In the video, the actress encouraged people to avoid firecrackers and help reduce air and noise pollution.

Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam subsequently objected to her participation and tagged the BMC in a post on X. He said people did not need to learn how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza and referred to the importance of cultural traditions.

A few hours after his objection, the BMC removed the actress's video from its social media accounts.

However, videos featuring other campaign participants, including Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, reportedly remained available. This raised questions about why Dia Mirza's video alone had been taken down.

Mumbai Mayor's Remarks Added to the Dispute

The controversy intensified after Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde reportedly called Dia Mirza anti-Hindu and said the actress did not need to teach people how to celebrate Diwali.

Tawde also referred to the actress's earlier public statements and positions on various issues. She reportedly said she was unaware of Dia Mirza's inclusion in the BMC campaign and that permission should be sought before involving celebrities in future civic initiatives.

The Bombay High Court's direction to restore the video has brought the focus back to the original purpose of the campaign: encouraging people to celebrate festivals while remaining conscious of the impact of pollution on public health and the environment.