New Delhi, October 21, 2026: A 30-foot-tall cockroach effigy was burnt alongside the traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad during Dussehra celebrations in Delhi’s Pitampura area, triggering a political controversy between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The unusual effigy-burning ceremony was organised by the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee at the DDA ground in Netaji Subhash Place (NSP), Pitampura, on October 20. The event drew public attention and prompted AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj to file a complaint with the Delhi Police and the Lieutenant Governor, alleging that the act hurt religious sentiments and misused a religious festival for political purposes.
The organisers, however, maintained that the cockroach symbolised dirt, unhygienic conditions and associated health risks, and that the initiative was intended to promote cleanliness.
Why Was a Giant Cockroach Effigy Burnt?
The 30-foot cockroach effigy was an unusual addition to the traditional Dussehra ritual, which commemorates Lord Ram’s victory over Ravana and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
Ashok Goel Devraha, BJP MLA and president of the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee, said the effigy represented filth and the health problems associated with cockroaches. He linked the initiative to cleanliness campaigns such as Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi.
According to the organisers, the committee has previously used symbolic effigies to draw attention to social problems, including Naxalism and terrorism.
The organisers also denied that the cockroach effigy was intended to target any particular individual, political party or organisation. <Cite refs={[“turn871551search0″,”turn871551search1”]}/>
Saurabh Bharadwaj Seeks FIR Against Organisers
AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj objected to the burning of the cockroach effigy and submitted a complaint to the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner.
In his complaint, Bharadwaj alleged that introducing an insect-themed effigy into a traditional religious ceremony distorted established Hindu customs and hurt the sentiments of devotees.
He also questioned the timing and political context of the event, arguing that the act could be interpreted as targeting the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a political group that had attracted attention through its use of the cockroach as a symbol.
Bharadwaj requested the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the committee’s president, other organisers and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He further sought administrative action concerning the circulation of photographs and videos of the event. These are demands made in the complaint; they do not establish that the named individuals have committed an offence.
Kapil Mishra Defends the Effigy Burning
Delhi minister and BJP leader Kapil Mishra defended the event and criticised those objecting to it.
Mishra argued that the cockroach was a symbol of filth and disorder, and suggested that the criticism reflected discomfort among political opponents. His remarks intensified the exchange between the BJP and AAP.
The BJP’s position broadly aligned with the organisers’ explanation that the effigy was intended to highlight cleanliness and public-health concerns rather than insult a religious community.
The controversy has since expanded beyond the symbolism of the effigy, with both sides offering sharply different interpretations of the event’s purpose.
Cockroach Janata Party Connection Adds to Controversy
The incident has also drawn attention because of the Cockroach Janata Party, whose founder, Abhijeet Dipke, has used the cockroach as a political symbol.
The party’s name and its public activities became a point of discussion after the giant cockroach effigy was featured in the Dussehra celebrations.
Dipke responded to the attention by thanking the organisers for what he described sarcastically as “free publicity.”
Although the resemblance between the effigy and the party’s symbol fuelled speculation about a political message, the Ramlila committee maintained that its stated purpose was to raise awareness about filth and hygiene. The allegation that the effigy was deliberately intended to target the party remains disputed.
Political Row Over Religious Traditions
The controversy has highlighted competing arguments about religious customs, public symbolism and political expression during major cultural festivals.
Bharadwaj has argued that traditional religious celebrations should not be used to target political groups or promote social division. The organisers and BJP leaders, meanwhile, have defended the act as a symbolic cleanliness initiative.
Whether the effigy-burning ceremony violated any law will depend on the relevant facts and any action taken by the authorities. Filing a complaint does not itself establish criminal wrongdoing, and the allegations against the named individuals remain unproven.
Conclusion
The burning of a 30-foot cockroach effigy during Delhi’s Dussehra celebrations has become a political flashpoint, prompting AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj to seek police action against the organisers and Kapil Mishra.
While the organisers say the effigy was intended to promote cleanliness and awareness of health hazards, Bharadwaj alleges that the act misused religious traditions and carried a divisive political message.
The dispute has placed the intersection of religion, political symbolism and public celebrations in the spotlight. Any further developments will depend on the response of the Delhi Police and the authorities to the complaint.
