Bengal BJP MLA retracts claim that firecrackers cure diseases
Tollygunge MLA Papiya Adhikari withdrew her statement after claiming bursting firecrackers could cure several illnesses.
West Bengal BJP MLA Papiya Adhikari on Monday withdrew a statement in which she claimed that bursting firecrackers can cure several diseases. The Tollygunge MLA, who is also an actor, said she was retracting the remark and apologised to anyone who was hurt by it, according to News18.
The controversy began during a Kali Puja inauguration in her constituency when Adhikari said that bursting firecrackers would cure several diseases. She noted that while people should follow police guidelines, the practice was part of a tradition. She later explained that her comments were based on old beliefs passed down by ancestors regarding the lighting of lamps to eliminate social evils.
Adhikari stated that while such rituals were believed to help in the past, the claim is not relevant in the current scientific age. She also accused the media of misrepresenting her comments, according to News18.
The remarks surfaced as Kolkata grappled with air pollution concerns. India Today reported that on Diwali, Kolkata's average Air Quality Index stood at 301, which is in the 'very poor' category according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
The Free Press Journal reported that Adhikari's comments drew criticism and online mockery. The MLA had also expressed support for the stand of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding bursting firecrackers while following police guidelines and using environment-friendly alternatives.