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A glimpse of a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad at Netaji Subhash Palace (NSP) Grounds in Pitampura, in New Delhi on October 20, 2026 | Photo Credit: ANI

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) thanked the organisers of a Ramlila event in Delhi for what he called “free publicity” after they announced plans to burn a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside those of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkarna.

“Thank you for the free publicity,” Mr. Dipke said in reaction to the development.

CJP legal head Ratna Singh also reacted to the controversy, describing it as a “tamasha” (drama).

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises the annual event in Pitampura, has said the cockroach effigy is intended to symbolise filth and dirt and promote cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi campaigns.

Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel has maintained that the decision was not politically motivated and was intended to convey the message of the victory of good over evil while highlighting the importance of cleanliness.

The development comes amid protests by the CJP in the national capital. The group initially protested against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and later joined demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed effigy has triggered questions on social media, with some users questioning its propriety at a religious celebration and alleging that contemporary political developments were being mixed with the festival’s traditional significance.

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj has filed a complaint with the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi Police commissioner against the organisers of the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee in Pitampura over a planned burning of a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside those of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad.

In a post on X, Bharadwaj accused the organisers of deliberately hurting people's religious sentiments, altering sacred Hindu traditions and attempting to incite enmity between communities.

The complaint names committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Sevraha and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, among others, and seeks the immediate removal of the allegedly offensive content from media platforms. Mr. Bharadwaj sought an FIR, warning that he would approach the court if no action is taken.

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