Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 3: Some BJP leaders representing common people came for heavy criticism by the Bombay High Court which expressed its “deep pain and displeasure” on Tuesday over their taking a partisan stand on a public awareness video featuring noted Bollywood actress Dia Mirza forcing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to pull it down though similar videos by some others belonging to the majority community were kept in circulation.
Expressing its strong displeasure over remarks made by certain BJP leaders against Dia Mirza’s public awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza, which urged people not to burst firecrackers on public streets, the court directed the BMC to re-upload the video on its social media platforms after it was taken down following the political backlash.
Underscoring that India is a secular country, a bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale, taking suo motu note of the issue, said it was anguished by the “petty mindset” of certain persons, especially those who are representatives of the common man. This is not expected from people holding public posts, the court said, adding that the BMC too ought not to have deleted the clip of Ms Mirza after the controversy.
“What happened yesterday is the most unfortunate, to say the least. We are deeply pained by what has happened. Such a knee-jerk reaction was unwarranted. The message spread in the video was for the good of all persons irrespective of their religion and caste,” the court said.
In an awareness video for the BMC, the 44-year-old actor had appealed to the public, citing a High Court order, not to burst firecrackers on public roads. While Mirza’s video was pulled down hours after the Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to it, several other videos by celebrities like Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya continue to be on the social media handles of the civic body.
Even while claiming that pulling out of Ms Mirza’s video was “not linked to her religion,” Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde had said the actor has “always taken an anti-Hindu and anti-government stand,” citing it as the reason to oppose her.
Neither Satam nor the Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane even bothered to camouflage their objections to Ms Mirza’s video with secularism. Mr Rane had objected to her being commissioned by the BMC for the public awareness programme during Diwali only on religious ground. He had said it was wrong for the BMC to promote people like Dia Mirza. “Dia Mirza has tweeted about Diwali, but she never tweets or offers such advice during Eid, Muharram or Bakri Eid.
“They only talk about an environment-friendly Holi or Diwali. They should also speak about an environment-friendly Ramzan and Bakri Eid. People like her are against the Sanatan Hindu religion. I will discuss this issue with the Chief Minister that such things are prevented in the future,” he said.
It was “most unfortunate” that such a colour was given to a video made to spread awareness about the environment and air and noise pollution, the court said. No person can question as to why a certain celebrity was chosen by the authorities to spread awareness, it stated.
The BMC had appealed to citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Deepavali following a Bombay HC directive amid rising air pollution in the city. As part of the campaign, the civic body roped in several celebrities, including Ms Mirza. While her clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed, campaign videos featuring actors Madhuri Dixit and Nishigandha Wad, as well as cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, were on the BMC’s X and Instagram pages.
The court said the BMC commissioner was absolutely correct in the selection of celebrities to spread awareness, and it was unfortunate that other unnecessary issues were taken up, the court observed. It sounded a note of caution to those who raised the objections and said there has to be respect for every person in the community irrespective of their religion, caste and creed.
“There has to be a secular spirit, and the Constitution expects citizens to foster the same. If the clip was taken off, then it would be ideal that the same should be re-uploaded,” the court said. A city like Mumbai survives on togetherness and a strong feeling of belonging to society, and this ought not be disturbed by any “loose comments,” it said.
“We have not seen any politician or any person who made remarks yesterday put up videos spreading awareness. We are a secular country. We are really hurt by this. The issue pertains to the environment and every person, irrespective of their religion and caste, is breathing the same air,” the court said. It reminded that the BMC’s step was pursuant to orders passed by the court prohibiting bursting of firecrackers on public roads and streets throughout the year.
The court said the orders did not pertain to any particular festival and that, incidentally, it happens to be Deepavali now. “Firecrackers are burst at all times like during marriages, processions, election victories and after cricket matches. Our order concerns all 365 days. The paramount consideration is the environment and control of air and noise pollution,” the bench said.
No person can question as to why a certain celebrity was chosen by the authorities to spread awareness, the HC said. “We are deeply pained and express our displeasure. Why is a different colour being given to all this unnecessarily? We have the highest respect for everyone, but we are not pleased at all with what happened yesterday,” the court said.
Any human being can come and canvass about the environment, and there is no scope for any individualism, the court said, adding that community spirit is most important. “We need to nurture a sense of goodwill and togetherness and a strong sense of belonging to the society when it comes to issues pertaining to the environment. What is this petty mindset? We don’t approve of this. Someone comes forward, and then this person is reprimanded,” it added.