Mumbai, Oct. 28, 2018: The Supreme Court has refused to impose a nationwide blanket ban on firecrackers and permitted the sale and manufacture of low emission “green” alternatives.
It also fixed a two-hour time period from 8 pm for bursting crackers on Diwali and a 35-minute window between 11:55 pm and 12:30 am for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
But the Christian community in Mumbai says the relaxation of the rule during Christmas Eve was unnecessary.
“With respect to the Supreme Court’s verdict, it has to be pointed out that bursting firecrackers on Christmas Eve is not part of Christmas tradition historically,” said Abraham Mathai, president- Indian Christian Voice & former vice chairman-Minorities Commission.
He said Christians respected the apex court’s sentiments, but “we feel that there should be no exception in instances like this since environment protection is the need of the hour and we stand wholeheartedly with the apex court’s earlier rulings as well that highlight the need to protect the environment and India’s resources.”
Mathai said,”Permitting the use of fire crackers on Christmas Eve until 12:30 am is absolutely unnecessary as Christmas is the celebration of peace and joy and the community does not require the use of fire crackers as it is not at all a religious requirement. As a peace loving and responsible community, Christians all over India, stand for the protection of the environment and we want to ensure that our environment is free from such pollution during our festival celebrations.”
Regarding December 31, it is a global celebration where the New Year is celebrated and welcomed with firecrackers which isn’t the case during Christmas, said Mathai.
Source: mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com