Fire cracker ban: Centre, Delhi Govt. failed to ensure implementation of SC's order

The Congress on Tuesday dubbed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Tajindar Bagga's move to distribute crackers as unfortunate, and asserted that the Centre and the Delhi Government failed to implement Supreme Court's order.

"This is unfortunate. No one should act against the law as laid down by the Supreme Court. Secondly, Delhi Government and the Central Government failed to act in September when the Supreme Court gave its order for the first time. They should have come up with regulations and should have segregated such crackers which cause lot of pollution and which do not. They should have enforced those rules," Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken told ANI.

He added that with the Supreme Court's order no one is officially allowed to sell the crackers, whereas, unofficially through the black market these crackers are finding various customers.

"The police and local inspectors are making money and people have to pay extra because of this black marketing of crackers. It is purely the government's lapse which failed to recognize the Supreme Court's order first in September then they failed to come out with a set of regulations," Maken further said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi BJP spokesperson Bagga distributed crackers to children in Hari Nagar, days after the Supreme Court ordered a ban on the sale of crackers in the national capital, with the view to reduce pollution during Diwali.

Bagga defended himself by saying that the ban is only on sale and not on the distribution of firecrackers.

He said that distribution of crackers is not a disrespect of Supreme Court's decision.

On October 9, Supreme Court restored the ban on the sale of firecrackers till November 1.