The politics around firecrackers in Delhi is getting nauseating

The Diwali festive season is round the corner. All the households, business enterprises and organisations are having a grand plan for the very upcoming grand festival. But its saddening that the upcoming Hindu festival is being soured at the hands of some petty politicians. The ‘elitism’ of AAM AADMI Party leaders have exposed their hypocrisy and blatant hatred towards the Hindu rituals of bursting firecrackers on Diwali.

The great irony of bursting firecrackers and Pollution thereof

Brace yourself as all the seasonal climate activists have woken from their slumber. The sermonising around the Hindu festival of lighting, Diwali, has started in full brazenness. Apparently, the blatant hypocrisy of the AAP government has been exposed just before the start of the Diwali celebrations. Contrary to AAP Ministers’ sermons, supporters of AAP celebrated the ministerial appointment of AAP leader Raj Kumar Anand by bursting firecrackers.

The BJP spokesperson lambasted the hypocritic tactics of the ‘Elitist’ Aam Aadmi Party.

Ban on Hindus celebrating Diwali with crackers because of pollution! But if AAP’s Raj Kumar Anand’s chamchas burst crackers to celebrate his ministerial berth- it is secular pollution?
Btw stubble burning in AAP run Punjab increased 3fold in 9 days even as AQI in Delhi plummets pic.twitter.com/JIcuQNPyhS
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) October 20, 2022

Also Read: Cracker ban and much more, Vice President Naidu opines that Judicial overreach needs to be curtailed

Interestingly, the Kejriwal government for the last two years has been relentlessly playing spoilsport in letting Hindus celebrate Diwali in its full glory. In September 2022, the Delhi AAP government re-imposed its unscientific ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till 1st of January,2023, including on Diwali.

Bursting Firecrackers tantamount to CRIME, punishable up to six months of JAIL TERM

Recently, the Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that bursting of firecrackers on Diwali will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of ₹200. He added that the Kejriwal government has formed 408 teams to successfully implement the cracker ban in the state. These include 210 teams of Delhi Police under the guidance of Assistant Commissioners of Police. Similarly, the Revenue Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have constituted 165 and 33 teams respectively.

The AAP environment held a Press conference to warn the Delhi residents against bursting firecrackers. He said that Production, storage and sale of firecrackers in the capital will be punishable under Section 9B of the Explosives Act. The violators will be fined up to ₹5,000- and three-years jail.

Also Read: Data suggests that fake farmers in Punjab burned more stubble on Diwali night to lay the blame on firecrackers

The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that its government will carry out a public awareness campaign – Diye Jalao Patakhe Nahi (light diyas, not firecrackers). This campaign will be launched from 21st of October.

Additionally, the Delhi Government will light 51,000 diyas at the Central Park in Connaught Place.

The minister informed about the relentless arrests being carried out for the violation of the said prohibitory orders of Delhi government on Firecrackers. He said that around 188 cases of violations have been detected so far and 2,917 kg firecrackers have been seized till 16th of October.

Also Read: Supreme Court admits that it’s the stubble that causes pollution and not the humble Diwali crackers

IIT Research reports exposed the farce around Firecrackers and Pollution

Earlier, an in-depth IIT Delhi research report in May, 2022 exposed the real villain behind the rapid degradation of air quality in and around Delhi-NCR during the time of Diwali festive season. The study was titled as ‘Chemical speciation and source apportionment of ambient PM2.5 in New Delhi before, during, and after the Diwali fireworks. It was published by IIT Delhi researchers.

The lead author of the report, Chirag Manchanda pointed out the pollution sources that impact the ambient air quality in the capital, Delhi. The report clearly highlighted that although the firecrackers do contribute to a sudden spike in PM2.5 level concentration in the ambient air, it quickly subsides in just around 12 hours. But contrary to that, the pollution caused by biomass-related emissions rose sharply in the days following Diwali.

Further, the report stated, “biomass-related emissions rise steeply in the days following Diwali, with average levels almost rising by order of ~2 compared to the pre-Diwali concentration”.

However, Diwali firecrackers have been conveniently made the scapegoat. The Kejriwal Government has failed miserably in finding out a permanent solution for tackling air pollution during winter season. Instead of that, it conveniently airs the false canards that firecrackers contribute enormously to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. It was an open secret that the real reason behind air pollution in and around Delhi-NCR was stubble burning in Punjab and other adjoining areas.

Diwali celebrations have been wrongfully vilified to shift the blame back to the society and avoid questions and concerns on accountability of Government. And there is nothing more obvious than that.