The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload actor Dia Mirza’s video for its eco-friendly and firecracker-free Diwali campaign after the civic body removed it amid political criticism. The court said it was deeply pained by the controversy and objected to the campaign being associated with political allegations.
A bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale took suo motu note of the issue on Tuesday. It expressed “deep pain and displeasure” over the row and criticised what it described as the “petty mindset” of some persons, particularly those holding positions as representatives of the common public.
The court said the video was intended to spread awareness about the environment and air and noise pollution. It also said no one could question why a particular celebrity had been selected by the civic authorities to communicate an awareness message.
The controversy began after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to Mirza’s inclusion in the BMC’s Diwali campaign. According to the report, Satam questioned why the actor had been chosen to advise citizens on how to celebrate the festival and linked an appeal against firecrackers with the phrase “Tukde-Tukde Gang”. He alleged that anti-India forces were attempting to dictate how Hindus should celebrate Diwali.
Following the objection, the BMC removed Mirza’s video from its social media platforms. Similar campaign videos featuring actor Madhuri Dixit, Nishigandha Wad and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane were retained, according to the report.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde also described Mirza as “anti-Hindu” and said the actor would not be included in future BMC programmes or featured on the civic body’s official platforms. Mirza responded that she had recorded the video in the public interest and had not charged the civic body for it. “Koi paise nahi liye hain. Bhalai ka zamana hee nahi raha,” she said, according to the report.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale also criticised Mirza over the video and advised her to focus on acting rather than posting the appeal, the report said.
The court’s intervention places the BMC’s campaign decision within a wider question of how civic bodies communicate public-health and environmental messages. The campaign was framed around reducing air and noise pollution during Diwali, but the dispute shifted attention to the identity of its spokesperson and the political interpretation of the appeal.
The court said it was “most unfortunate” that such a colour had been given to a video made for environmental awareness. Its direction requires the BMC to restore Mirza’s video to its official platforms.
