Bombay HC Disapproves of Remarks on Dia Mirza’s Anti-Firecracker Video; Directs BMC To Restore It

New Delhi: The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore a public awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza, that was deleted from its social media handle. The Bench also expressed displeasure at remarks made by certain politicians about the video. 

A Division Bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Dr Neela Gokhale was hearing the matter concerning the Court’s restrictions on bursting firecrackers on public roads. In the video, made at the BMC’s request, Mirza appealed to citizens not to burst firecrackers on public streets, in line with the Court’s directions. The BMC removed the video after BJP leaders objected, with some describing the actor as “anti-Hindu”. 

The Bombay High Court Bench expressed that it was disturbed by the stray comments and reminded those making them that India is a secular country. Justice Kulkarni observed that the remarks ignored the Court’s earlier order, which allowed all persons to take part in the awareness campaign. The judges noted that Mirza had acted in accordance with the Court’s directions and cautioned corporators and politicians against giving the issue any other angle. 

Justice Gokhale said the matter was purely one of the environment and should not be given any other colour. The Bench observed that everyone breathed the same air and ordered the BMC to put the video back online. 

Source: News