BJP MLA Papiya Adhikari has withdrawn her controversial remark that bursting firecrackers can cure several diseases, blaming the media for giving her comments a different interpretation.
The actor-turned-politician, who represents Tollygunge in West Bengal, said she did not mean to make such a claim and suggested that the media should not have presented her remarks that way.
“Nahi, nahi, aisa baat koi kuch nahi hai. Ye media waalon ne kya kiya hai, mujhe pata nahi hai. Ye nahi karna chahiye,” she said in Hindi, while smiling. She added that the belief came from what people in earlier generations used to say about traditional rituals.
“Our ancestors used to say that these practices served a purpose. This is essentially a festival of lights, a festival of lighting lamps, meant to remove social evils. In the past, people believed that rituals such as yagya and lighting lamps could eliminate many problems,” she said.
Adhikari acknowledged that such beliefs were not appropriate in an age when science had advanced significantly.
She then apologised to anyone who may have been hurt by her remarks and said she was taking them back.
“If anyone has been hurt, we apologise. We can even withdraw what we said. Consider it withdrawn,” she said, while continuing to refer to the traditional belief that such rituals helped remove social evils.
What Adhikari said about firecrackers
The controversy began when Adhikari attended the inauguration of a Kali Puja in her constituency. A firecracker went off in front of her as she began speaking.
“Our Chief Minister has said that we will burst firecrackers. How can Kali Puja be complete without firecrackers? We will definitely burst them, but we will follow the police guidelines,” she said in Bangla.
She then added, “You will see that bursting firecrackers will cure several diseases.”
Suvendu Adhikari defends firecracker celebrations
The remarks came amid complaints about loud firecrackers across Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal during Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said noise pollution was largely under control this year and defended the use of green firecrackers during the festivities. He acknowledged, however, that some firecrackers had been burst beyond the permitted hours.
Responding to complaints about the noise, the chief minister said they were being raised by communists. He also alleged that some political opponents were uncomfortable with what he described as the resurgence of Sanatan traditions in Bengal.
“Some people have a problem because of this resurgence of Sanatan traditions. Those raising complaints had turned Hindu festivals into cultural programmes and pushed religious scriptures aside. They do not wear a tilak, do not have the Bipattarini thread on their hands or tulsi beads around their necks,” he said.
