The Bombay High Court directed the BMC to restore Dia Mirza's eco-friendly Diwali video. The court condemned political objections and underlined citizens' constitutional duty to foster secularism.
Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Tuesday said actor Dia Mirza should also make a video about noise pollution caused by loudspeakers, an apparent reference to those installed atop mosques, amid a controversy over her appearance in an eco-friendly Diwali campaign, Press Trust of India reported.His remarks came on a day when the Bombay High Court expressed “deep pain and displeasure” over political objections to Mirza’s video and directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore the deleted clip on social media.Shirsat, a Shiv Sena leader, said Mirza should be appreciated for seeking to reform society but must keep her eyes open. “People know that they should not burst crackers, so why give ‘gyan’ (preach) on the issue? She should upload one more video.
Loudspeakers that blare all 365 days should stop. Do you have the courage to do so?
Doesn’t it cause noise pollution?” he asked, according to PTI.“When we give any suggestion, we are branded as communal and then there is a Hindu-Muslim conflict,” he added. Shirsat said members of all religions should follow the Constitution. “The law which applies to us applies to all,” he said.
Shirsat also criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray over his statement that Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde focuses on caste and religion instead of public issues. “What does Aaditya know? It’s not been a year that she is the mayor.
They (Sena-UBT leaders) never knew how to govern,” he said.However, Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairman and Shirsat’s party colleague Sachin Ahir took a different stand. He said the Shiv Sena could not link people working at the social level with caste and religion. “Balasaheb (Sena founder Bal Thackeray) taught us to work beyond the boundaries of caste and religion,” Ahir said.
The Bombay High Court took suo motu note of the controversy and directed the BMC to re-upload Mirza’s clip. It reminded the public that the Constitution expects all citizens to foster a secular spirit.A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said it was anguished by the “petty mindset” of some people, particularly elected representatives.
The court said it was “most unfortunate” that a video intended to spread awareness about the environment and pollution had been viewed in such a manner. It also said no person could question why the authorities had chosen a particular celebrity.Mirza’s video triggered a political row on Monday after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to it and Mayor Ritu Tawde described the actor as “anti-Hindu”.
The BMC subsequently removed her clip from its social media accounts.While Mirza’s video urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed, campaign clips featuring actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane remained on the BMC’s X and Instagram accounts. The controversy has since drawn differing responses from Shiv Sena leaders and prompted the High Court to order the restoration of Mirza’s video.- Ends