BJP leader Sirsa slams Delhi Govt order on ban of firecrackers

Sep 12, 2023

New Delhi [India], September 12 : Bharatiya Janata Party National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday slammed the Delhi government’s decision to ban firecrackers during Diwali season.
Sirsa said, “Pollution has to be controlled and there are different ways to do that, but a ban should not be imposed on an entire region. People can be made to understand to use crackers in a pollution-free manner to celebrate their religion as well as protect the environment.”
“The complete ban on crackers is to do appeasement, which is wrong in my view. The elected government should not resort to such moves”, he further added.
Earlier on Monday, the Delhi Government took a decisive action to combat escalating pollution levels by extending the ban on firecrackers within the capital city.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the stringent measure, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard the health of citizens, especially children and the elderly, from the harmful effects of firecracker emissions.
This comprehensive policy encompasses a prohibition on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and online delivery of firecrackers, with Minister Rai urging neighbouring NCR states to adopt similar measures to protect Delhi's air quality.
Addressing a press conference in the Delhi secretariat, Gopal Rai said, “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has brought a comprehensive policy to bring down pollution levels in Delhi. The government is stepping up its preparations this year and in this sequence, the government has imposed a ban on crackers in Delhi this year.”
He said that there is a rise in pollution during winter due to the bursting of firecrackers. The air of Delhi becomes very polluted in winter and it is very lethal for children and the elderly. Keeping this in mind, the Government has directed a blanket ban on manufacture, storage, sale (including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of firecrackers.