Parali vs Cracker Debate

Parali or Diwali’ thundered Arnab Goswami. The debate is on whether ban on burning cracker on Diwali day is an anathema on Hindu astha?

Certainly there are many different ways Diwali can be celebrated. Is cracker burning a must? But a faithful may argue why do I have to compromise on my festival, no matter how harmful the consequence be?

To me, bursting cracker on Diwali day when air quality is dangerously bad, brings only analogy of a liver compromised man with poor health asking for alcohol on his birthday. Should a doting family give in? Answer is no.

At the same time should there be no effort made to improve health of the person all year round, so that the man can enjoy his special day?

Although pollution due to Diwali cracker bursting goes away in 12 hours, those 12 hours can be very long and difficult for a breathing compromised person who is already suffering due to all year round bad air quality. Bad air becomes worse during autumn and early winter months when farmers burn their stubble before planting for new season.

AAP Government of Delhi had repeatedly declared that stubble burning was the chief cause of pollution in Delhi. Punjab was the chief culprit. AAP had also claimed so many remedies to biodegradable stubble waste and convert it into ethanol and fertiliser. Once, AAP got power in Punjab, they went silent on stubble burning menace of Punjab. That is the irony of politics!

I guess instead of black and white binaries, why not stop stubble burning, provide green cracker and select a localised area for cracker burning?