Soni Razdan Says Firecracker Criticism Was Not Religious

Soni Razdan said her criticism of Diwali firecracker use was about air pollution and public health, not religion, after her earlier Instagram post described bursting even one cracker as “antilife,” “antihealth” and “antinational.” In a November 5 post on X, she also said that bursting firecrackers does not make someone nationalistic and choosing not to burst them is not antinational. Razdan’s Instagram post, reported on November 4, argued that air pollution was affecting children’s health and causing some to miss school because of illness. She urged people to reconsider lighting firecrackers during Diwali. Those health effects were presented as her assertions; the reports did not provide independent health or air-quality evidence. In her clarification, Razdan said her use of “antinational” had caused confusion and rejected interpreting her message as a religious argument. She said the issue was pollution and the health of communities, and described knowingly contributing to air pollution for personal enjoyment as irresponsible. Her clarification was reported on November 5. The remarks came amid a dispute over a Diwali-awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza. The Brihanmumbai...