BJP, Shiv Sena slam Dia Mirza over BMC's Diwali pollution campaign
Synopsis
What began as a civic awareness campaign ahead of Diwali has become a flashpoint: the BMC deleted actor Dia Mirza's video after BJP's Mumbai chief objected, prompting BJP and Shiv Sena to question who has the right to advise Hindus on their own festival — raising pointed questions about where public health messaging ends and cultural politics begins.
Key Takeaways
The BMC removed Dia Mirza 's video from its pollution-free Diwali campaign after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected on 2 November 2026 .
BJP and Shiv Sena argued that Indians do not need celebrity guidance on how to celebrate Diwali.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the controversy was not about religion but noted concerns over both cultural expression and pollution.
BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya called on Dia Mirza to 'look within herself' before advising on Hindu festival practices.
The campaign was launched in compliance with a Bombay High Court directive on rising air pollution in Mumbai .
Other campaign endorsers — including Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane — were not targeted in the political backlash.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on Monday, 2 November publicly criticised Bollywood actor Dia Mirza over her involvement in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s pollution-free Diwali awareness campaign, asserting that Indians are fully capable of deciding how to celebrate their own festivals without celebrity instruction. The political backlash intensified after the BMC deleted the video featuring Dia Mirza from its social media platforms following objections raised by Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam.
The Controversy Unfolds
The BMC had launched the awareness drive following a Bombay High Court directive, urging citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers amid rising air pollution levels in Mumbai. As part of the campaign, the civic body had enlisted several public figures — including Dia Mirza, Madhuri Dixit, and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane — to record video messages encouraging an environment-friendly celebration. The controversy erupted specifically around Dia Mirza's inclusion.
Ameet Satam posted on X objecting to what he characterised as outsiders advising Hindus on Diwali customs. 'We don't need lessons on how to celebrate Diwali from Dia Mirza. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture,' he wrote. The BMC subsequently removed her video, triggering a wider political row over the boundaries of civic awareness campaigns.
What BJP Leaders Said
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale acknowledged that Dia Mirza belongs to the Muslim community but stressed the issue cut across religious lines. 'India is a country where the Constitution given by Dr B.R. Ambedkar grants every religion the right to celebrate its festivals,' he said. He added that while excessive pollution was a genuine concern, restricting firecrackers entirely risked diminishing the spirit of Diwali.
BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya urged Dia Mirza to 'look within herself' before commenting on Hindu festival practices. 'The people of this country know how Diwali should be celebrated; there is no need to tell them. Hindus in India have been concerned about the environment for years, for centuries. This is nothing new for us,' he said.
Shiv Sena's Take
Shiv Sena National Spokesperson Shaina NC struck a different chord, linking Dia Mirza's own name to the festival. 'Dia Mirza, whose name itself means light, should know that the Festival of Lights refers to Diwali. Every citizen understands the need to be mindful of pollution and avoid bursting firecrackers so that we can remain safe, because life and health come first,' she said.
Background and Broader Context
The episode sits at the intersection of environmental governance and cultural politics — a recurring tension in India around festival seasons. Courts and civic bodies have periodically imposed or recommended restrictions on firecrackers citing air quality data, while sections of the political establishment and public have pushed back, framing such restrictions as an encroachment on religious tradition. Notably, this is not the first time a BMC celebrity campaign has drawn political heat; similar controversies have flared ahead of festivals in previous years.
The decision by the BMC to remove the video rather than defend its campaign choice has itself drawn scrutiny, with critics arguing it sets a precedent for civic bodies yielding to political pressure over public health messaging.
What Happens Next
The BMC has not publicly explained the rationale for removing the video, and it remains unclear whether the broader pollution-free Diwali campaign will continue with the other celebrity endorsers. With Diwali approaching, attention will now turn to whether the civic body revises its outreach strategy and how the Bombay High Court directive on air pollution is implemented on the ground.
Point of View
And the civic body offered no defence. Singling out Dia Mirza while leaving other celebrity endorsers untouched reveals that the objection was never primarily about the campaign's message; it was about the messenger. That the controversy broke precisely along communal lines — with multiple leaders feeling compelled to note her religious background — is a signal of how reflexively festival-season politics in India now defaults to identity. The harder question, lost in the noise, is whether Mumbai's air quality will suffer for it.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BMC remove Dia Mirza's video from its Diwali campaign?
The BMC removed Dia Mirza's video after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam publicly objected to her inclusion, arguing that people do not need outside instruction on celebrating Diwali. The civic body did not offer a formal explanation for the removal.
What was the BMC's pollution-free Diwali campaign about?
The campaign was launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in response to a Bombay High Court directive on rising air pollution in Mumbai. It featured celebrities including Dia Mirza, Madhuri Dixit, and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane urging citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali.
What did Union Minister Ramdas Athawale say about Dia Mirza?
Athawale acknowledged that Dia Mirza belongs to the Muslim community but said the issue was not about any particular religion. He said the Constitution grants every community the right to celebrate its festivals, while also noting that excessive pollution is a legitimate concern.
Why were BJP and Shiv Sena critical of Dia Mirza specifically?
BJP leaders, including MLC Shrikant Bharatiya, argued that Hindus have long been environmentally conscious and do not need a celebrity to explain Diwali traditions to them. Bharatiya also called on Dia Mirza to 'look within herself' regarding her own community's practices before advising others.
Were other celebrities in the BMC campaign also targeted?
No. The political criticism was directed exclusively at Dia Mirza. Other participants in the campaign — Madhuri Dixit and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane — did not face similar objections, and their videos were not removed by the BMC.
