‘Regulations only target Hindu festivals’: BJP slams Karnataka government order on firecrackers

Last update:27 October 2024, 08:51 IST

Union minister Pralhad Joshi called the Karnataka government’s order “words on paper” and said those who want to burst firecrackers will continue to do so.

The Karnataka government has restricted the use of firecrackers to a two-hour window between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. (Image for representation: PTI)

The BJP has criticized the Karnataka government’s order restricting the use of firecrackers on Diwali, saying the regulations only target Hindu festivals. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the instructions “words on paper” and said those who want to burst firecrackers will continue to do so.

The Karnataka government on Saturday (October 26) limited firecrackers bursting on Diwali to a two-hour window between 8pm and 10pm and said only eco-friendly ‘green’ crackers should be allowed in the state.

“Deepavali is approaching. The Supreme Court has given guidelines as to what kind of crackers should be cracked. Only green crackers should be sold and should be broken from 8 pm to 10 pm,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed reporters after a meeting with deputy commissioners of all districts.

According to the government’s order, the ‘green’ biscuits have to comply with sound limits below 125 decibels, while deputy commissioners have been directed to carry out inspections in the shops.

Joshi, who has strongly criticized the Congress government’s move, said the restrictions only target Hindu festivals like Diwali and Ganesh Chaturthi. “When it comes to playing DJ music, getting an FSSAI certificate for prasad at Ganesh pandals or ensuring that the Ganesh visarjan ends by 10 pm, there are always restrictions. Meanwhile, namaz starts in mosques as early as 5 am, but similar restrictions do not apply. These regulations seem to cover only Hindu festivals. Orders are just words on paper; those bent on cracking crackers will continue to do so regardless,” Joshi was quoted as saying in a report published by India today.

Reacting to the BJP’s concern, state forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the government’s order is in line with Supreme Court and central government directives on the use of pollution-reducing eco-friendly crackers. He said that Joshi is not aware of his own government’s regulations.

“If they have concerns, they should question the Supreme Court and their own government’s decisions,” Khandre was quoted as saying in the report.

Siddaramaiah stressed the need to prevent any damage to the environment. “We have also informed the DCs that there should be no harm, injury or death due to crackers in their districts,” he said.

He added, “District officers should register cases against traders selling non-green biscuits if they do not follow safety rules, do not sell at the designated place and do not have proper warehouses to store them.”

(With PTI inputs)