So what if pollution has increased, UP CM Yogi asks
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended Diwali firecracker use, stating that post-festival pollution would eventually subside.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the use of firecrackers during Diwali on Wednesday, dismissing concerns regarding the rise in pollution. Speaking at a government programme in Lucknow, Adityanath said that any increase in pollution would eventually subside and questioned why people were worried about it.
According to reports from The New Indian Express and Rediff, the Chief Minister noted that the state government did not place any bans on firecrackers. He stated that citizens had marked the festival with great spirit and that he had also attended the fireworks displays in Ayodhya.
Adityanath questioned why those raising pollution concerns remained silent regarding people who had allegedly polluted the system through corrupt actions. He remarked that while the public is criticised for one day of celebrations, those involved in corruption are not questioned.
The Chief Minister also compared the current atmosphere to the period before 2017. He claimed that prior to his party taking power, festivals such as Holi, Diwali, and Eid were often accompanied by communal tensions and riots that made people feel insecure.
Adityanath stated that there have been no riots or curfews in Uttar Pradesh for the last nine-and-a-half years. He mentioned that the programme in Lucknow involved distributing appointment letters to 1,146 junior assistants in the Revenue Department and providing financial aid to 4,300 beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana.