Ashok Pandit Criticizes BMC Commissioner Over Diwali Statement, Calls for Deletion of Posts

Mumbai, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Filmmaker Ashok Pandit has voiced his discontent regarding a statement made by BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide about Diwali celebrations. He emphasized that there is no need for anyone to instruct the public on how to celebrate the festival.

Bhide recently released a video on social media as part of a Diwali campaign, featuring celebrities urging people to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali and avoid bursting firecrackers. In response, Pandit posted a video on Instagram, expressing his anger at Bhide for leveraging the entertainment industry to convey her message.

In the video, Pandit addressed Bhide directly, stating, “Honorable senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide, we do not need lectures on how to celebrate festivals or protect the environment. You have become so engrossed in glamour that you use our celebrities to convey your points. You request them to lecture us about not using firecrackers.”

He further criticized the BMC for its selective activism, pointing out that he has never heard officials discourage the celebration of other religious festivals like Eid or Christmas. “Why is the BMC not as proactive during other festivals, and why do they not share their wisdom then?” he questioned.

Pandit continued to express his frustration, saying, “The BMC cannot even manage its own responsibilities. Banners remain up, gutters are not cleaned, and clean water is not provided, yet they lecture us on how to celebrate Diwali. This is our festival, and we will celebrate it as we always have.”

He concluded his remarks by urging Bhide to delete the posts related to Diwali from her social media accounts, stating, “Ashwini Bhide, you are a sensible person. I request you to delete all the posts you have made regarding our festivals.”