Dhirendra Shastri defends bursting firecrackers publicly:Says we don’t comment on festivals like Bakrid and Tazia, calls firecrackers part of Hindu cultural

Chhatarpur’s Bageshwar Dham head priest, Pt. Dhirendra Shastri, has said people should not preach to them about bursting firecrackers on Diwali. Speaking at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Ganesh Temple on Saturday, he said, “We do not comment on Bakrid or Taziya. This is our tradition, and we will continue it.” Shastri made the remarks in response to questions about pollution caused by firecrackers and appeals by Bollywood actors to avoid them. ‘Issue is raised only during Hindu festivals’
Dhirendra Shastri said that pollution is a serious issue, but why is this issue raised only during Hindu festivals? There is an appeal to actors to view festivals of all religions with equal respect and not to preach. The purpose of festivals should be to promote happiness, peace, and mutual brotherhood. Whatever the religion, everyone should respect each other’s feelings. ‘I Love Muhammad is not wrong’
Dhirendra Shastri said regarding ‘I Love Muhammad’, if someone says ‘I Love Muhammad’, it is not wrong. Similarly, if someone says ‘I Love Mahadev’, that is also not bad. Everyone has the right to love their religion and it should be respected, but slogans and ideas like ‘sar tan se juda’ (beheading) will neither be tolerated by Hindu society nor by the law of India. If anyone provokes, they will not be spared.