India

Mumbai Mayor Criticizes Dia Mirza Over Pollution‑Free Diwali Video Removal

By Linah Baliga, Poorva Joshi

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde defended the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to remove a video featuring actress Dia Mirza that urged citizens to avoid firecrackers during Diwali. Tawde said Hindus already know how to celebrate the festival and do not need the actress to “teach them.” She added that the BMC should not release any public statements without her approval and that Mirza’s content on the BMC’s official handles must receive the ruling party’s consent. The mayor accused Mirza of opposing the government’s environmental efforts and of supporting “divisive forces,” citing her criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political issues. She also claimed Mirza had opposed the Narmada project and the Uniform Civil Code. Mirza, who denied receiving payment for the video, said it was recorded at the behest of the Bombay High Court’s appeal to celebrities to support Maharashtra’s anti‑firecracker campaign. Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi defended Mirza’s message, stating that urging citizens to refrain from bursting firecrackers was not wrong. The BMC removed the video within hours of comments from BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam, who wrote on X that “we don’t need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from @deespeak.” Satam’s remarks were followed by criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the BMC of being a “slave of the BJP.”