NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday defended Diwali celebrations involving firecrackers amid concerns over worsening air pollution. The Uttar Pradesh CM said that even if pollution levels increased during the festival, they would eventually subside.Addressing an event, Adityanath questioned why pollution became a major concern when people celebrated festivals, while those responsible for allegedly corrupting the system were not held accountable. He also defended the use of firecrackers, saying his government had not imposed restrictions on them during Diwali.“You celebrated Diwali as well, but many people complained that it caused pollution. I said that even if pollution increased, it would eventually subside, so why worry?” the chief minister said.“Nobody questions those who polluted the entire system through their corrupt practices. But if the public celebrates Diwali with firecrackers for just one day, suddenly it becomes a major pollution issue. Even if pollution occurs, it will eventually settle down. That is not a major concern,” he added.
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Adityanath further said people had done the right thing by celebrating Diwali enthusiastically and bursting firecrackers. “People did the right thing by celebrating Diwali with great enthusiasm and bursting plenty of firecrackers. We had also said that there would be no restrictions on firecrackers,” he said.His remarks come amid a sharp deterioration in air quality across north India following Diwali celebrations. Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376 on Sunday.Lucknow recorded an AQI of 245, while Varanasi stood at 274 and Gorakhpur at 261, as per a report by PTI.