BJP's endorsement of the firecracker ban is not just a commercial disaster, but a cultural one too. Never in India before has a government forced silenced Diwali on the population. Not sure if even the most vocal supporters of the NDA can support the government's endorsement.

You go to the markets, already suffering from the Covid impact, and you meet shop owners complaining about the lack of crowds. Crackers ushered separate temporary markets for a week at least, and this time, nothing. And it's not only about crackers here.

People visited these temporary markets for crackers, and supplement sales would rise, like those of candles, diyas, and so forth. In a way, it was a nice celebration in the markets for 7 days of the 365, and one evening of bursting crackers. Crowds aren't there!

For the kind of year, we have had, and the kind of recession we are in, banning anything makes little sense. No wonder why traders hate the BJP, from metal to cracker traders. Even if it was a judicial or NGT order, an order from the GOI would have helped in this aspect, but no!

Thoroughly disappointed in the PM as well. When it was about giving up LPG subsidies for the poor, millions of people came forward, so it's not like we don't care for the environment, but to take the fun out of one festival, or endorsing it, is shameful. Spare the middle-class!

Also, what are we teaching our kids? Kids look forward to a festival for the fun element, and most kids aren't interested in the gift forwarding, or aarti. Most, as I once did, look forward to bursting crackers. You want to enrich kids culturally while making festivals boring?

The GOI, with its 303 seats, has no power to speak up against the pollution caused by other festivals, pollution caused by other reasons. Fields in Punjab have been burning for a month FFS. No action! But then, you dilute the ONE FESTIVAL ALL HINDUS CELEBRATE! SHAMEFUL!

It's days like these when I feel that the PM takes his supporters for granted. Again, I mention the PM because the buck stops at him. We credit him for the good things, so we must credit him for the dumb ones too. The cracker ban was uncalled for. GOI should have stepped in.

Putting another important aspect here. https://twitter.com/curiosweetie/status/1209365763640815616?s=20

As we accept a silenced Diwali today, tomorrow they'll come for Holi, Rakshabandhan, and anything that is important to us. Cultural and commercial disaster, this. I am sure I am not the only one this angry.

This is happening when there are 303 seats. Imagine the precedent that’s been set for the time when there shall be no 303 seats. https://twitter.com/ishitayadav/status/1327267793230647297

Tell you the truth, had there been a Congress government in the centre, people on the Right would have gone bonkers against the ban. Just stating the truth, we are guilty of giving the BJP a free pass on issues of importance.