Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday defended the widespread use of firecrackers during Diwali, saying the spike in air pollution would subside and questioning why critics of firecrackers had remained silent when the corrupt polluted the system in the past.
“No one is saying anything to those who polluted the system with their corrupt deeds. If the public lights firecrackers one day, then pollution is a problem. It will subside too. Air quality deteriorated sharply across several cities in Uttar Pradesh.
The chief minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of concerns in Lucknow and other parts of the state over the thick blanket of acrid smoke on Diwali night and a midnight road visibility of just 200 metres following unrestricted bursting of firecrackers. Since 2015, Lucknow’s air has been worse the day after Diwali than the day before, according to the CPCB 4pm bulletins. On Diwali, AQI in Ghaziabad was 344 (’very poor’), Noida 318 (very poor), Greater Noida 299 (poor) and Meerut 295 (poor). On the following day (Monday), the AQI in Ghaziabad was 324 (very poor), Noida 332 (very poor), Greater Noida 252 (poor), and Meerut 269 (poor), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
That is not a problem,” the chief minister said at an official event in Lucknow to distribute appointment letters to newly selected junior assistants in the revenue department.
He dismissed concerns over the pollution caused by firecrackers, arguing that it could be addressed, while accusing critics of overlooking pollution caused by corruption. But if the public burst crackers one day, it created pollution! If pollution occurred, it would be mitigated as well. No problem. It is good that people celebrated Deepavali with ‘dhoom-dhadaka’ and burst crackers. We decided not to impose any prohibitions. I, too, was in the middle of fireworks in Ayodhya.
In his speech, Adityanath contrasted the present situation with the period before 2017 — when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not in power — claiming that festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Vijayadashami, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Christmas, Eid, Guru Parv and Makar Sankranti were often preceded by communal tensions and riots under previous governments. “Before 2017, whenever any festival approached, be it Holi, Diwali, Vijayadashami, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Christmas, Eid, Guru Parv or Makar Sankranti, riots would begin. Every person felt insecure,” he said, according to a PTI report Earlier reporting noted: Yogi Adityanath dismisses Deepavali pollution concerns, says it will subside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) defended the bursting of firecrackers during Deepavali celebrations, saying people should be allowed to celebrate the festival without restrictions.
Nobody says anything to those who polluted the entire system with their corrupt misdeeds. When someone celebrates a festival, people speak up about pollution, but not when someone does anything wrong,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: #WATCH | Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, “…You celebrated Diwali and several people are saying that it caused pollution. I said, ‘Don’t worry; pollution would be mitigated as well’.
Earlier reporting noted: “Don’t worry; pollution would be mitigated as well.
