Delhi tries to beat the cracker ban

Cocking a snook at the Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers, a fringe Hindu outfit burst crackers outside the apex court’s premises in Delhi on Tuesday evening. The group took the plea that the court had banned the sale and there was no bar on bursting fire crackers.

The incident happened a few hours after Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga distributed sacks full of crackers to slum kids in Hari Nagar area of west Delhi. Bagga also tweeted photos and a video of him giving out firecrackers to the children, but claimed that their distribution did not amount to contempt of court.

He also expressed disapproval over the selective ban during Diwali and alleged that only Hindu festivals had been targeted. “Our grievance is with the selective ban. If crackers create pollution, put a permanent ban, in fact, ban its manufacturing.

Crackers also create pollution during New Year celebrations,” Bagga said.

However, the Opposition did not spare him from criticism.

Likewise, dozens of shops were found selling firecrackers in Delhi even as the police patrolled the bazaars to ensure strict implementation of the Supreme Court order as per which no such sale will be permitted till October 31. In fact, on Tuesday, in the DelhiNCR region, the Delhi Police seized 1182 kilograms of firecrackers

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal has rejected a plea against the ban on sale of firecrackers, saying the Supreme Court's order was the "law of the land".

Congress leader J. P. Aggarwal called it dirty politics on the part of the BJP, and said that the ruling party should not have remained silent when the topic of ban had come up in the court.