The removal of actor Dia Mirza’s video for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s eco-friendly Diwali campaign was “very unfortunate” and contrary to the “secular spirit” of the country, the Bombay high court said on Tuesday.
“What’s been reported yesterday is very unfortunate. We are deeply pained, especially when it concerns the order passed by the court. There’s no question of any knee jerk reaction. We, the people, are concerned. This means everyone of everyone from any caste, creed, or religion, who can bring this sensitisation to the society. Why is this person picked up for raising awareness, is of great displeasure for us. The BMC had appealed to citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali following a high court directive amid rising air pollution in the city. As part of the campaign, the civic body roped in several celebrities, including Mirza. “The incident is contrary to the court’s observation. How do you object to a person from participating in the awareness campaign? Are we not a secular country? This is very unfortunate. You don’t have any actual thoughts, you go on to say anything,” it remarked. “People are discouraging citizens from obeying the court’s orders and giving it something different. She had rendered a very good message in terms of pollution. There was nothing bad in it. But to give a colour to her message is very unfortunate. Where are we going with this? It shouldn’t have been taken down. Put it back again and restore the confidence of the society. This is just some stray thought of one or two people, which sparked the situation. “When we are talking about pollution, health, etc., there is no scope for such thoughts, which would spark some kind of factionalism or individualism. “We are clear that everyone is free to participate. This is not correct. Everyone ought to respect that. Please tell the municipal commissioner that she was absolutely right and she has acted as per the court’s order. If the celebration and the authorities are working to protect public health, what’s wrong with that? We have utmost appreciation for the celebrities who are coming up to assist and devote their time in spreading such awareness,” it added.
The court’s remarks came amid a massive row in the state, after the civic body selectively removed the actor’s clip from social media following objections from a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and mayor Ritu Tawde’s comments labelling her as “anti-Hindu”. This is possibly not very acceptable”, a division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Dr Neela Gokhale said. The court said the municipal commissioner had acted in the “proper spirit of constitutionalism” and that there was no need to take the video down from social media platforms. The bench further observed that Mirza’s video “rendered a very good message to the society”. We have all praises for the commissioner for what she has done,” it said. The bench said it respects every individual, who is taking out their time to spread awareness in compliance with the court’s order on an eco-friendly Diwali. It’s community spirit and individualism that’s important,” it said.
