Responding to a Twitter user's post seeking clarity about his stand on the issue, Shivraj Chouhan said: Madhya Pradesh is a state of happiness. Here, we never ban happiness. There is no restriction on firecrackers in the state. But yes, there is a ban on Chinese firecrackers. Celebrate the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, burn firecrackers and celebrate Diwali with great pomp!"
Many states may have come forward and taken a stand against bursting of firecrackers this Diwali in view of the coronavirus pandemic, but Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has other ideas.
Instead of following the trend of banning firecrackers in the state, Chief Minister Chouhan has urged people of his state to celebrate the festival with fervour as they do every year.
Responding to a Twitter user's post seeking clarity about his stand on the issue, Chouhan said: Madhya Pradesh is a state of happiness. Here, we never ban happiness. There is no restriction on firecrackers in the state. But yes, there is a ban on Chinese firecrackers. Celebrate the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, burn firecrackers and celebrate Diwali with great pomp!"
मध्यप्रदेश ख़ुशियों का प्रदेश है। यहाँ पर हम ख़ुशियों पर कभी भी किसी तरह का प्रतिबंध नहीं लगाते। 😊
प्रदेश में पटाखों पर कोई प्रतिबंध नहीं है। हाँ, लेकिन चीनी पटाखों पर प्रतिबंध ज़रूर है।
आप भगवान राम के अयोध्या लौटने की ख़ुशी मनाये, पटाखे जलाये एवं धूम-धाम से दिवाली मनाये! 🙏🏽 https://t.co/VjVt9QClG5
The response drew response from other users on the micro-blogging platform, with some welcoming the Madhya Pradesh chief minister's stand while others criticising him.
Wow . Good question and a perfect answer. Thank you sir for helping the workers in these times of distress where crackers aren't banned. Same with who hasn't banned it 🙏 livelihoods are at stake.
— Nishaanth Ramakrishnan (@nyshawnn)
अपनी खुशियाँ औरों के लिए जानलेवा हो तब भी ?
the magnitude of air and sound pollution during 2 days of Diwali is sometimes so high that many people's health is critically impacted by it. Such high pollution for two days can be fatal for some.
Up, mp and karnataka are the only 3 three states doing what i support bjp for. Thank you sir for keeping our hopes alive for bjp.
— Ranvijay (@KuwarbiRanvijay)
Mamaji...aapka aabhaar vyakt karta hoon . Kaash aapki yah soch baaki BJP shaashit pradeshon mein bhi hoti.
— Khirod Sangarbi (@KhirodSangarbi)The MP chief minister's remarks come on a day when the National Green Tribunal directed all states and Union territories to initiate drives to contain air pollution from all sources in view of the potential of aggravation of COVID-19.
"The cities/towns where air quality is 'moderate' or below, only green crackers be sold and the timings for use and bursting of crackers be restricted to two hours during festivals... as may be specified by the concerned state," NGT said.
The tribunal ordered the ban while hearing pleas against the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali because of its potential to aggravate the severity of the raging Covid-19 outbreak in the country.