Faith and Firecrackers: Why More and More BJP Leaders are Encouraging Use of Crackers on Diwali

A thick blanket of smog enveloped Delhi-NCR early on Monday after several residents tossed aside the Supreme Court’s regulation against bursting firecrackers on Diwali. Though the BJP as a party hasn’t taken any position on the issue, many of its leaders have opined in favour of bursting crackers, resonating “an overwhelming sentiment” of many supporters.

Amit Malviya, who heads the Information Technology department of the party, shared screenshots of tweets by news agency ANI showing the Air Quality Index of Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and ITO areas of Delhi. The screenshots compared the AQI in these areas on Saturday (Chhoti Diwali) morning and Monday morning. As per the screenshots, the AQI in Anand Vihar at 7am on November 11 was 282, which marginally to 296 on Monday morning.

“AQI in Delhi pre and post Deepawali has been in a range. It hasn’t seen material deterioration. Some people, including journalists, are circulating fake data, claiming AQI of 999 in parts of Delhi, and attributing it to fire crackers, are doing it intentionally, to malign Hindus,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Kapil Mishra, the newly appointed vice-president of Delhi BJP, made a cryptic post without using the words ‘crackers’ or ‘firecrackers’. His post, however, has been widely construed as lauding Delhiites who flouted the cracker ban amid worsening air pollution.

“Proud of You Delhi. These are voices of resistance, voices of freedom and democracy. People are bravely defying unscientific, illogical, dictatorial ban. Happy Diwali,” he posted on X on Sunday night.

He had earlier claimed that “firecrackers are not the source of pollution”, and instead blamed stubble burning for which the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Punjab is facing the heat.

“If crackers could escalate pollution level, world’s most polluted place right now would be Gaza. Fight pollution, don’t snatch crackers from kids,” he said referencing the Israel-Hamas war.

Till 2017, Delhi BJP spokesperson Tejinder Singh Bagga distributed firecrackers to children of an ashram. While he didn’t do so this time, Bagga tacitly threw his weight behind those choosing to celebrate Diwali by bursting crackers.

When Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha social media convenor Jatin Makol posted a video of bursting crackers with kids, Bagga reposted it. The video was captioned: “When they say you can’t do it, do it twice and make videos.”

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the opposition’s INDIA bloc of selective outrage on the occasion of Diwali. “I.N.D.I Alliance leaders had not a word to say about Delhi’s air pollution in last 15 -18 days when there was no Diwali! Delhi was a gas chamber even as Parali from Punjab kept burning! AQI was in hazardous category thanks to the failure of Kejriwal govt but not a word!”

While many BJP leaders have of late been cautious of commenting on Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers during Diwali, several others contend that the order “reeks of double standards” and constitutes an “attack on Hindus” given the use of firecrackers during cricket World Cup matches and at celebrity weddings.

Malviya’s statement perhaps sums up what most BJP leaders, particularly those from the national capital, believe: “Had it not been for the rains, Delhi would have, by now, chocked to death. Address the real issue instead of targeting faith and Hindu festivals.”