On October 30, just days before the Diwali festival, Kejriwal addressed the media and referenced the Supreme Court and High Court’s emphasis on limiting firecracker usage due to pollution. “Even the Supreme Court and High Court say that in view of the pollution, we should not burst crackers; we should light diyas. This is the festival of lights and not firecrackers. It is not as if we are doing a favor to anybody. Whatever pollution will happen, our children will suffer from it, so there is no Hindu-Muslim in this. Everyone’s life is important,” he stated.
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#WATCH | Delhi: On ban over firecrackers in Delhi, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says “…Even the Supreme Court and High Court say that in view of the pollution, we should not burst crackers, we should light diyas. This is the festival of lights and not firecrackers. It… pic.twitter.com/R7LVunG8OK
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2024
Criticism from Political Opponents
Kejriwal’s statements followed criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Dinesh Sharma, who questioned why the firecracker ban was limited to Hindu festivals. Sharma suggested that the ban should also apply during other celebrations such as Christmas and New Year. “We stand by the measures that are implemented for curbing pollution. There are many ways to curb it, but why are there only bans on Hindu festivals?” he asked.
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#WATCH | Firecrackers being burst by AAP workers outside the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi.
CM Kejriwal has been granted bail by the Supreme Court today in the Delhi excise policy case. pic.twitter.com/1EWqECNblp
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024
Government Measures Against Pollution
Earlier, the Delhi government issued a comprehensive ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers effective until January 1. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged residents to comply with the government’s efforts to mitigate air pollution. “In view of the increasing pollution in winter, a ban has been imposed on the production, storage, sale, and use of Crackers from today until January 1,” Rai stated.
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Delhi govt bans production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers till January 1 to combat air pollution: Environment Minister Gopal Rai
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 9, 2024
Enforcement of the Ban
Following the announcement of the firecracker ban, several incidents occurred that raised questions about compliance. A report indicated that some AAP workers were seen bursting firecrackers in September during a celebration for Kejriwal, despite the ban. Delhi Police took action by filing complaints against unknown individuals for violating the firecracker regulations.
Ongoing Air Quality Challenges
The air quality in Delhi has been a longstanding concern, particularly during the winter months when pollution levels tend to rise. While the AAP government has implemented bans on firecrackers during festivals, the effectiveness of these measures in improving air quality remains a topic of discussion. Factors such as stubble burning in neighboring states have also been identified as significant contributors to pollution in the capital.
