Right-wing organisation in Goa demands ban on Chinese crackers

A Kid holding beautiful sparklers (fire crackers) in hands during Laxmi Puja as the procession of Tihar or Deepawali and Diwali celebrations at Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday, October 30, 2016. Tihar is a hindu festival celebrated in Nepal for 5 days. Cows are considered to be the incarnation of the Hindu god of wealth, Lord Laxmi. (Photo by Narayan Maharjan/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has urged the Goa government to ban the sale of Chinese firecrackers, saying they contain a chemical that is banned in India.

The right-wing Hindu organisation submitted a memorandum to the North Goa District Collector's office on Friday, seeking to ban the crackers manufactured in China, which will hit the markets before and during Diwali, being celebrated next week.

"A large consignment of Chinese Crackers has been brought into the country. A mixture of the chemicals, namely potassium chloride and potassium per-chloride are used in the production of these crackers; but there is a ban on the use of these chemicals in Bharat (India)," the memorandum signed by HJS leaders, including its state convenor Manoj Solanki, says.

Solanki said that although these Chinese crackers are cheap, they pollute the atmosphere very badly and the Indian government has banned the sale of these crackers during Diwali.

He said that as per the Explosives Act, 2008 possessing and selling the foreign-made explosive material is a cognisable offence.

"Delhi government, too, has put a complete ban on Chinese crackers. Despite this ban, the Chinese crackers are brought into India illegally and sold," he added.

The HJS demanded that the government should ban its sale immediately and take stringent action against those involved in its illegal trade.

The organisation also pointed out that pictures of national heroes and deities are printed on the covers of some crackers. "When these crackers are burnt, these torn pictures also get strewn all over.