Maharashtra Politician Criticizes BJPs Handling of Dia Mirza Video Controversy

Mumbai, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Congress leader and Maharashtra Legislative Council member Bhai Jagtap has sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over various issues, including the controversial video by actress Dia Mirza promoting a pollution-free Diwali. Following a ruling from the Bombay High Court directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload Mirza’s video, Jagtap described the court’s decision as a significant rebuke to the BJP’s alleged narrow-mindedness.

Mirza, a noted environmental activist and former Miss India, created the video to raise awareness about pollution. Jagtap emphasized that the BJP’s actions against her stemmed from her Muslim identity, asserting that environmental efforts should not be judged based on religious affiliation. He underscored that the Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, regardless of their background, and condemned the BJP’s political maneuvering in this instance.

In response to remarks made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding Rahul Gandhi, Jagtap stated that the Constitution is neither blue nor red but is fundamentally Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for claiming to uphold constitutional values while acting contrary to them. Jagtap insisted that all leaders must respect the Constitution, which he described as the soul of the nation.

Jagtap also challenged Union Home Minister Amit Shah‘s claims about the removal of three crore names from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), suggesting that the government has actually disenfranchised over 13 crore people. He questioned the legitimacy of the Election Commission’s authority to strip citizens of their voting rights and accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the electoral process for political gain.

Rejecting Shah’s assertion that those removed were illegal immigrants, Jagtap pointed out that the government has had ample time since 2014 to address any such issues. He accused the BJP of attempting to maintain power through electoral fraud, stating that the public is now aware of the government’s tactics. He introduced a new slogan: “We fought against the whites before independence; now we will fight against vote thieves like you.”

Jagtap also took aim at the BJP’s “Save Democracy, End Anarchy” rallies held in various states in response to a Congress rally in Delhi. He noted that the BJP governs at both the central and state levels, and if democracy is indeed at risk, the responsibility lies with them. He defended the citizens’ right to protest, stating that students, women, and youth voicing their concerns should not be labeled as anarchists. He cited instances of police violence against protesting students and the tragic deaths of farmers during the protests, arguing that the government mischaracterizes dissent as chaos while ignoring genuine issues.