THE Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deleted a video featuring actor Dia Mirza from its pollution-free Diwali campaign after Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam objected to her inclusion, sparking a controversy. The BMC had appealed to citizens to avoid bursting firecrackers and celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali following a Bombay High Court directive amid rising air pollution in the city. As part of the campaign, the civic body roped in several celebrities, including Dia Mirza. While Mirza’s clip urging people to avoid noise and air pollution was removed on Sunday. Mirza’s video was deleted after Satam objected to it in a post on X, tagging the BMC’s official account. “We don’t need lessons on how to celebrate #Diwali from @deespeak. Our traditions are deeply rooted in our culture,” the BJP leader wrote.

 

Mayor Ritu Tawde told reporters on Monday, “Dia Mirza has always sided with divisive forces. We do not need her to teach how Hindus should celebrate Diwali. She had trolled PM Modi on the NEET exam issue.” “She has always been anti-Hindu. We have blacklisted her,” she added. “If we look at Mirza’s entire profile, we can see that she has opposed the Narmada project and the Uniform Civil Code. She has also spoken against environmental issues that we were working on. We have consistently seen her opposition directed against Hindutva and those who work for it,” the Mayor further claimed.