India, Nov. 3 -- Actress Dia Mirza has defended her role in a pollution-free Diwali video made for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after the civic body deleted the video following an objection from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a statement to IANS, Mirza said the video was recorded in the interest of public awareness, to encourage a healthier and more mindful celebration of the festival. She described Diwali as a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. Air pollution is a matter of public health, she said, and every effort to reduce it is a step toward a better environment for all.

The BMC had shared the video as part of a Diwali awareness campaign urging peo...