Several states had banned the sale and use of firecrackers this year citing the pandemic (Representation)
Chennai:
The raging debate over banning firecrackers in several states continued on Sunday, with BJP National Secretary General CT Ravi questioning the rationale and pointing out concerns about other pollutants.
Social media was abuzz with many, including Mr Ravi and Congressman Manickam Tagore, highlighting the plight of lakhs of workers employed in the national fireworks industry center of Sivakasi in the south from Tamil Nadu.
Several states had banned the sale and use of firecrackers this year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental concerns, the move being a blow to the industry.
A day after the nation celebrated the festival amid the ban, Mr. Ravi, party official for Tamil Nadu, said around ten lakh people were dependent on the cracker industry.
“Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is where crackers are made and around 10 lakh people are employed. If militant governments or courts want to ban crackers for #Deepavali, they should ban for all purposes now. No cricketer or pontificate actor should celebrate weddings with crackers, “he tweeted.
To a Twitter user, who highlighted the plight of workers and the need for alternative employment for them in view of the ban and restrictions on firecrackers, the Safran party leader said he shared this point of view.
“I agree. Those in Sivakasi who depend on the cracker industry should be offered other jobs. Only then should crackers be banned throughout Bharat. In addition, others Activities which involve the mass killing of animals, cutting down trees and damaging the environment should also be prohibited, “Mr. Ravi, who was here a few days ago to lead a “Vetrivel yatra,” which has not been cleared by the government citing the coronavirus pandemic, said.
In another tweet, Mr Ravi said he was not at all in favor of banning crackers.
“As a Hindu, I don’t want anyone to interfere or teach us about how to celebrate our festivals. I am against the arbitrary cracker ban that affects the livelihoods of Tamil Makkal lakhs (people ) dependent on the cracker industry in Sivakasi “.
The topic “Sivakasi” was all the rage on Twitter and many social media users while discussing firecrackers and pollution pointed out that the livelihood of lakhs of people in Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district depended on the fireworks industry.
On November 9, the National Green Court imposed a total ban on the sale or use of all kinds of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR) until November 30 at midnight.
He had also said that the direction of the complete ban would apply to all cities across the country where the average ambient air quality in November 2019 was in the “poor” and above categories.
The NGT, however, had said that in towns or villages where the air quality is “moderate” or lower, only green crackers are sold.
Tamil Nadu has not banned the sale or bursting of firecrackers for deepavali but has limited its use to two hours.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami had also written to his counterparts in some states that banned firecrackers from reconsidering the decision.
Police say they have registered charges against those who detonated crackers in violation of the two-hour deadline on Saturday.
In the city alone, as many as 428 cases have been recorded this year compared to 204 last year, they said.
Several social media users protested the ban on firecrackers citing pollution, wondering why it was only for one day on Deepavali.
They questioned what they called the “silence” of activists on other causes of pollution throughout the year.
Some Twitter users even claimed that the attempt to “destroy # Sivakasi” was to help China, which is known for its fancy firecrackers, and tagged some reports claiming that the neighboring country “accounts for 94 percent of US imports of fireworks”.
A number of users tweeted using the hashtag “Save #Sivakasi #VocalForLocal”.
Chief Congressman Abhishek Singhvi said such a ban should be imposed well in advance.
“Have always maintained, if you want to ban firecrackers. Announce it one day after Diwali for the next Diwali. This saves traders / vendors / manufacturers a whole year of not having to prepare for businesses they can’t. never do, ”he tweeted.
Mr Tagore, Congressman from Virudhunagar, shared a report on the cause of pollution in Delhi which did not present firecrackers as a contributing factor.
Sarcastically, he said on his Twitter account, “Please find Sivakasi #Firecrackers in the pollutant list in Delhi but blame him for all the other mistakes, is that right ??
“Sivakasi only has the talent and knowledge to compete with China in the #Fireworks industry, but Modi Sarkar’s ministers never endorse Sivakasi but have started the hashtag # Local4Vocal.”
“The skies of Japan have lit up with fireworks to brighten the mood amid the coronavirus … but in our India where Our Sivakasi is making fireworks, we are fighting to stop the lies and spread the truth, ”he said.
Additionally, in his Twitter account, he dismissed the allegations of child labor in Sivakasi as being completely false, baseless and unfounded.
Social media has also been inundated with claims and counterclaims on vested interests working to get Sivakasi’s firecrackers banned for deepavali.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
