Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has defended bursting firecrackers during Diwali, saying any pollution caused by the celebrations would eventually subside.
His remarks came amid worsening air quality across several cities, particularly Delhi-NCR.
Speaking at a government programme, Adityanath said he was happy to see people celebrating Dhanteras and Diwali with enthusiasm and fireworks. Recalling his own celebrations in Ayodhya, he said he had also participated in the fireworks.
The chief minister said his BJP-led government had imposed no restrictions on Diwali celebrations and had encouraged people to observe the festival wholeheartedly.
He questioned why people raised pollution concerns over one day of celebrations but remained silent about corruption, which he said had polluted the entire system.
Adityanath also alleged that festivals frequently witnessed communal disturbances under governments before the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.
His comments came as Delhi and neighbouring areas, including Noida and Gurugram, recorded severe air pollution after Diwali.
Delhi’s AQI reportedly reached 483 on November 9, while some private monitoring platforms recorded levels above 1,000 in certain areas.
Former WHO deputy director Dr Soumya Swaminathan stressed that public health should remain central to the air pollution debate, noting that reducing pollution can produce measurable health improvements and save lives.
