RESIDENT SPEAK: Religious tradition a scapegoat in politics over environment
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RESIDENT SPEAK: Religious tradition a scapegoat in politics over environment

Our country has been facing environmental challenges for a decade now.

RESIDENT SPEAK: Religious tradition a scapegoat in politics over environment

Our country has been facing environmental challenges for a decade now. Environmental pollution, in terms of air and water pollution, is increasing each passing day in a year.

No wonder public health emergencies have been declared in metro cities like Delhi-NCR due to unbearable levels of air pollution. To combat this level of pollution, authorities, administrations and political leaders have now started using excuses that major festivals held in our India should be celebrated in ways to reduce pollution.

Every year on festivals like Diwali, Dussehra and Holi, we are told to avoid burning crackers, effigy of Ravana, Holika Dehan and playing Holi with colours as it will cause more pollution. 

Political leaders also indulge in political arguments over it. But we consider the fact that these festival rituals, which we have been following for the past 100 years, create a bonding with our religious sentiments and these are not alone responsible for pollution.

The only way to curb pollution is to put a different level of restriction on religious festivals. At a time when crackers are banned in India, in a foreign country, cracker shows are being organised to woo Indian tourists. Kids in India are being taught to say no to crackers. This is the propaganda run by the so-called environment lovers who do nothing for environment throughout the year.
If these citizens pledge to do plantation and plant two saplings a year and take care of them throughout the year, our nation could have 100 crore plus fully grown plants in the next three years.

Many of them spend more than Rs 100 a day on cigarettes, but they can’t spend Rs 200 on two good saplings of neem/peepal plant to be planted near their homes.

To lure and keep vote bank high even messages are spread on social media. If crackers are to be banned why not sacrificing animals on other festivals. This is nothing but dirty politics being played on the religious sentiments of citizens of a democratic county.

We are citizens of a secular nation and it is the duty of our leaders and administrative authorities to protect our religious sentiments.  It should not be targeted in the name of environmental protection measures, while other factors which contribute to pollution 365 days in a year are being ignored.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are his own and CitySpidey does not endorse them in anyway.