Videos claiming that New Jersey police stopped Diwali celebration went viral.
Several videos showing cops and firefighters dousing fireworks on Diwali night surfaced on social media, claiming that this happened in New Jersey this year. The fireworks were stopped after 10 pm, the claims said, though there is no official confirmation on these claims and exactly what happened. The videos went viral as some supported what the police did, and some blamed Indians for earning a bad name everywhere they go. But some users claimed that the cops were not stopping the celebrations but only dousing skyshots that were not allowed. “Diwali celebration was fully permitted by the state, and fireworks were officially allowed. All safety measures like roadblocks, ambulance & fire brigade were arranged by the city. Someone from the crowd suddenly lit skyshots which weren’t allowed, so the fire brigade sprayed water only for safety — not to stop Diwali,” one wrote. There is no confirmation about this either. “Its misleading, fire department was present there for any emergency. And after the celebration actually they helped the residents in cleaning the roads,” another explained. The comment sections of these viral videos were divided — many supported what the police apparently did, while many asked whether this would be done on Christmas and New Year’s Eve also. Diwali is celebrated in many US states, and New Jersey is one of them. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey, put up a spectacular fireworks display this time. Though Diwali is celebrated every year in many US states, it became a major flashpoint this year as several MAGA supporters openly spread hate, slammed Hindus and even targeted the Indian-American politicians of the Republican Party. This came in the backdrop of the Trump administration cracking down on the H-1B visa program that allows US companies to hire foreign employees.
