Mumbai, November 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Opposition parties in Maharashtra have welcomed the Bombay High Court’s direction to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to re-upload an awareness video featuring actor Dia Mirza, accusing the civic body of removing it because of her surname.
The video, part of the BMC’s Diwali public awareness campaign, featured Mirza urging citizens not to burst firecrackers on public roads.
Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray questioned the civic administration’s handling of the controversy, saying the BMC had itself invited Mirza, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane and actor Madhuri Dixit to participate in the campaign.
He also criticised BJP leader Ameet Satam, alleging that his focus was on communal and caste-related issues rather than civic concerns. Thackeray questioned how the administration was functioning when the Mayor, Ritu Tawde, had reportedly said she was unaware of the matter.
AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also welcomed the court’s intervention, saying the controversy had been turned into a communal issue. He alleged that Mirza was specifically targeted by Mumbai BJP chief Satam because of her surname, while videos featuring Rahane and Dixit were not removed.
Former Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Kishori Pednekar said the person occupying the Mayor’s office must represent every community rather than a particular caste, group or religion.
Pednekar described the treatment of Mirza as unfair, pointing to her achievements and association with the United Nations Environment Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador. She also criticised the Mayor’s reported remarks about blacklisting someone, saying such statements were inappropriate ahead of a festival celebrated across communities.
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap accused the BJP of indulging in divisive politics and thanked the High Court for intervening.
NCP-SP leader Fahad Ahmed, meanwhile, alleged that Satam was exercising undue influence over the BMC, despite Tawde holding the Mayor’s office.
The opposition leaders said the controversy raised questions about the civic body’s approach to public campaigns and the treatment of individuals participating in them.
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