Global warming: Nagpur outfit gets candidates to sign ‘shun crackers’ oath

Dr Yashwant Manohar of Bahujan Mahasangha,Nagpur,was the most enthusiastic about the campaign.

Dr Ravindra Bhusari,socio-environmental activist and trustee of Sahyog Trust,Nagpur,said,“After meeting party leaders we realised that many of them are afraid of signing the oath. A Nagpur-based candidate even cut out the line ‘my party workers will not celebrate the victory by bursting crackers’ before signing. Another politician told me that bursting crackers is in our culture. But,nowhere in our culture or religious texts are crackers mentioned or promoted.” While Sahyog has got negative response from areas like Yavatmal,Akola,and Pune they are hopeful of making an impact by the time the Vidhan Sabha elections start.

Advocate Asim Sarode,a human rights activist from Pune, said,“Issues like global warming and climate change have become an important part of the worldwide political agenda.  However,in India,during elections or any important political meeting,the issue garners no importance.”

Bhusari pointed out that in regions of Nagpur,Vidharba,Akola,Yavatmal and Ramtek,bursting of crackers starts when votes are being counted. Adding that his request to sign the oath was turned down in Vidharba,Yavatmal and Akola. The group got maximum signatures from Nagpur.

Sahyog’s Mumbai volunteer Deepak Ghadekar said that the campaign is a fledgling effort.