New Delhi, October 23: In defiance to the Supreme Court's verdict that firecrackers could be burst between 8 to 10 pm on Diwali, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Chintamani Malviya said he would burst crackers when he finishes his puja after 10 pm. Calling the apex court's ruling unacceptable, Chintamani Malviya added that no one can set limits on festivals.

"Our religious traditions and festivals are followed by Hindu calendar. I will burst crackers only when I finish puja; we can't set time limits on festivals, such restrictions were not even in Mughal times. It is unacceptable," the BJP lawmaker said in a Facebook post. Fireworks Industry to File Review Petition in Supreme Court Post Diwali.

Refusing to impose a blanket ban on the bursting of firecrackers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the use of only green crackers with reduced emission and decibel levels during all religious festivals. A bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan specified that on Diwali, firecrackers could be burst only between 8 pm and 10 pm.

The bench also provided that firecrackers would be allowed between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am on Christmas and New Year while banning the bursting of crackers not conforming to the green norms. The ban would be in force throughout the year. These conditions would also apply to marriage festivities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2018 09:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).