The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s removal of actor Dia Mirza’s Diwali anti-pollution video after objections from BJP leader Ameet Satam has triggered a political dispute over whether the civic body applied different standards to public-interest campaign participants. Videos featuring Madhuri Dixit, Swapnil Joshi and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane remained on BMC’s social media pages, according to a report by Times of India – Mumbai.
The controversy began after BMC posted Mirza’s video as part of a campaign urging citizens to avoid firecrackers and celebrate Diwali in a way that reduced pollution and health risks. Mirza had recorded the video without charging the civic body, following an official request. She said the message was intended to encourage “a healthier and more mindful celebration” and noted that the campaign was connected to concerns over pollution levels in Mumbai.
Satam, the BJP’s Mumbai unit chief, objected to Mirza’s participation in a post on X and said citizens did not need to receive lessons on celebrating Diwali from her. BMC subsequently removed the video from its social media accounts. Satam later told Times of India – Mumbai that Mirza had been associated with what he described as anti-India forces and had sympathised with people allegedly seeking to spread anarchy. He said that, in his view, the other participants represented the fields of arts and sports.
The episode drew criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned why Mirza’s video had been taken down while other celebrity messages remained available. Shiv Sena deputy mayor Sanjay Ghadi said his party’s position did not align with the objections raised by BJP leaders and questioned the need to remove the video. Mirza, who is a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, told the newspaper that she had made the clip at the request of BMC and Bombay High Court in the public interest.
Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde said she was unaware that Mirza had been included in the campaign. She said she would ask the civic administration to inform her in advance about the names of celebrities associated with BMC campaigns. Tawde also described Mirza as “anti-Hindu” and referred to the actor’s reported positions on issues including the Narmada dam project, the Uniform Civil Code and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the NEET examination issue. She said Mirza would be blacklisted from activities associated with the BJP or Mahayuti and that Satam’s position reflected that of BJP corporators.
The BMC administration had not issued a public statement explaining the removal, according to the report. The dispute has therefore shifted the focus from the campaign’s stated objective—reducing firecracker-related pollution and protecting public health—to the process by which a municipal body selects, retains or removes participants from civic communication. Congress city chief Varsha Gaikwad said citizens should receive equal treatment regardless of religion, while Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned the mayor’s claim that she had not been informed about Mirza’s involvement. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh sought an explanation from the civic body for the different treatment of the videos. No further administrative action was announced in the report.
