West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Papia Adhikari triggered fierce public backlash after declaring that bursting firecrackers drives away illness and cures diseases, making the unscientific claim directly from a festive stage as smoke choked nearby crowds.
Had she paused, she might have heard the chorus of doctors warning of respiratory collapse. Instead, she doubled down.
Speaking at a Kali Puja idol unveiling ceremony in her Tollygunge constituency, the lawmaker brushed aside mounting environmental warnings even as pyrotechnics exploded around the venue. Adhikari insisted that the traditional practice of detonating crackers carried therapeutic value, claiming the smoke and noise effectively banish sickness from communities.
Her remarks arrive at the worst possible moment for public health authorities. Air quality indexes across urban Bengal regularly plunge into hazardous territory throughout the autumn festive calendar, leaving hospitals overwhelmed by patients battling chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, and cardiovascular distress.
Political opponents and civic groups swiftly pounced on the comments, demanding an immediate clarification from state party leadership. Health practitioners warned that validating toxic emissions under the guise of medicinal tradition risks encouraging unchecked violations of environmental regulations during major celebrations.
With regional pollution control boards preparing to deploy enforcement teams across municipal zones, the state administration is expected to issue updated monitoring guidelines ahead of peak festive gatherings.