Adityanath Defends Diwali Fireworks, Says Pollution Will Subside

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended Diwali fireworks at a government programme in Lucknow on Wednesday, saying pollution would subside and his government had imposed no restrictions on the celebrations. He also questioned why people setting off firecrackers faced criticism while, in his view, those responsible for corruption did not.

Adityanath said he had joined fireworks celebrations in Ayodhya and welcomed the enthusiasm around the festival. He said people should not be overly concerned if pollution had increased, predicting it would eventually lessen. His remarks came amid concerns about air quality after Diwali, including reports of high pollution readings in Delhi.

The programme also marked the distribution of appointment letters to 1,146 newly recruited junior assistants. Adityanath used the event to criticise previous state governments’ recruitment practices, alleging that discrimination and irregularities had prevented qualified young people from obtaining suitable jobs. He said that before 2017, one person could sit an examination while another secured the appointment. Those allegations were not independently substantiated in the accounts of his remarks.