AAP, BJP politics over Delhi Diwali firecrackers ban

In a bid to tackle the annual issue of deteriorating air quality that peaks this time of the year, the Delhi government on Wednesday issued a warning that those found purchasing and bursting of firecrackers in the city can be punished with a and jail time.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said the government was prepared to enforce the ban on firecrackers across the city this Diwali, adding that teams have been set up to keep a tab on violators.

While those found purchasing and bursting crackers can invite a fine of Rs 200 and face up to six months in jail, those involved in manufacturing, storing and selling firecrackers in the city could be fined up to Rs 5,000 and be jailed for three years.

Delhi, a city of about 20 million, sees the peak of toxic air quality during this time of the year, the onset of winters, when the deteriorating air quality is pushed to worse with stubble burning and Diwali, a festival celebrated using firecrackers.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said that the Delhi Police has formed 210 teams, each of which will be spearheaded by an officer of the ACP (assistant commissioner of police) rank. The revenue department, meanwhile, has formed 165 teams and there are 33 teams under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). These teams consist of a total of 1,279 personnel and all those who violate the ban by selling, manufacturing or storing firecrackers will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 and be imprisoned for three years as per Section 9(b) of the Explosive Act, Rai added.

Similarly, those who purchase and burn the crackers illegally, they will be prosecuted under Section 268 of IPC (public nuisance), which stipulates a fine of Rs 200 and imprisonment for 6 months,” Rai said.

As Delhi government chalked out plans to tackle air pollution with a warning of fine and jail term to keep Delhiites away from firecrackers, BJP’s Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga took a swipe at the Delhi government with a video of what he claimed were AAP workers bursting crackers to celebrate a minister’s appointment.

Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga tweeted a video which showed a few men bursting firecrackers. Bagga claimed they were supporters of Patel Nagar MLA Raaj Kumar Anand, who were celebrating his appointment as the new social welfare minister by burning firecrackers at his residence.

Terming Kejriwal “anti-Hindu”, Bagga said on Thursday that the Delhi chief minister “has a problem with Diwali and not with firecrackers”.

हिन्दू दिवाली पर पटाखे जलाते है तो प्रदूषण होगा, @ArvindKejriwal उन्हे जेल भेजेगा लेकिन केजरीवाल का मंत्री बनने की ख़ुशी में अगर पटाखे जलाए जाते हैं तो उसमें से ऑक्सिजन निकलेगा।केजरीवाल तुम्हारा हिन्दू विरोधी चेहरा आज फिर सामने आ गया,तुम्हे दिक़्क़त दीवाली से है पटाखो से नही pic.twitter.com/B3dHU0IZj4

— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) October 19, 2022

If Hindus burn crackers on Diwali, there will be pollution, @ArvindKejriwal
will send them to jail, but if the firecrackers are burnt in the joy of becoming a minister of Kejriwal, oxygen will come out of it [firecrackers].  Kejriwal your anti-Hindu face has been exposed yet again. You have a problem with Diwali, not from firecrackers,” Bagga said in his tweet.