Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has defended the use of firecrackers during Diwali, saying pollution from the celebrations is temporary and will subside, while reiterating his government’s position against restrictions on the festivities.
Speaking at an event in Lucknow on Wednesday, Adityanath said he had personally participated in Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya and criticised what he described as selective objections to firecrackers. He said people had been able to celebrate Diwali and other festivals without fear, presenting this as a change from the period before 2017.
Addressing concerns about air quality, the chief minister acknowledged that pollution increased during Diwali but argued that the impact would not last. “Lots of people said there was pollution due to Diwali celebrations. I said pollution did happen but it will end also. Why worry about it?” he said, according to the Times of India report.
Adityanath also said that it was good for people to celebrate Diwali with grandeur and stated that he was pleased that large numbers of people had lit firecrackers. His remarks place the state government’s position firmly against imposing restrictions on Diwali celebrations, even as air pollution remains a public concern during the festival period.
The chief minister contrasted pollution from a single day of celebrations with what he described as corruption that had “polluted the entire system”. He used the comparison while criticising political opponents whom he said objected to ordinary people bursting firecrackers but ignored wider governance concerns.
The remarks also linked the festival debate to law and order in Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath claimed that festivals before 2017 were often preceded by riots and curfews, affecting markets and public safety. He said that over the past nine and a half years there had been no curfews and no “danga”, and argued that the state’s situation had changed.
According to the report, the chief minister said festivals had been celebrated with greater grandeur this year and referred to his presence in Ayodhya during the lighting of firecrackers. He did not announce any new pollution-control measure or time-bound restriction in the remarks reported from the Lucknow event.
The immediate policy position stated by the chief minister is therefore that Diwali celebrations, including firecracker use, should not face restrictions from the Uttar Pradesh government. The report did not include air-quality readings, an assessment by the state pollution-control authority or details of any separate enforcement directions.
