Cockroach Effigy Row: AAP Files Complaint Against NSP Ramlila Committee
AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj seeks FIR against BJP MLA Ashok Goel and others for burning a cockroach effigy alongside Ravana to symbolise filth.
A political storm has erupted in Delhi over a unique addition to the traditional Dussehra celebrations. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has filed a formal complaint against the organisers of the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee (NSP, Pitampura) after they announced plans to burn a giant cockroach effigy alongside the traditional figures of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad.
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj has approached Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and the Delhi Police Commissioner to seek action against the committee's leadership. The complaint specifically names the committee's president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel, as well as Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra.
Allegations of Hurting Religious Sentiments
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the organisers of attempting to incite enmity between different communities and deliberately altering sacred Hindu traditions. He argued that the introduction of a cockroach effigy into the religious ritual is an attempt to hurt religious sentiments.
Bharadwaj has demanded that all "offensive content" related to this decision be removed from media platforms immediately. He further stated that he has requested the registration of an FIR, warning that the party will move the court if the police fail to take action.
The Logic Behind the 'Cockroach'
The Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee, however, maintains that the move is purely symbolic and aimed at social awareness. Ashok Goel Devaraha, the Model Town MLA and president of the committee, explained that the 30-foot-tall cockroach is intended to represent "filth."
According to Devaraha, the goal is to send a strong message about the need to eliminate filth from three specific areas: individual homes, immediate neighbourhoods, and society at large. He emphasized that Vijayadashami symbolises the triumph of good over evil and truth over falsehood.
"For thousands of years, we have been burning the effigies of Ravana, Meghnada, and Kumbhakarna; this conveys the message that, in the end, truth always prevails," Devaraha stated.
A Tradition of Symbolic Effigies
The committee leader defended the decision by noting that burning additional effigies to represent national issues is not a new practice for them. In previous years, the committee has reportedly burned effigies representing terrorism and Naxalism to highlight the afflictions plaguing the country.
The Craftsmanship Behind the Effigies
The physical creation of these figures is a family legacy for artisan Shahwez Khan, who is crafting the effigies this year. Khan shared that his grandfather and great-grandfather were also involved in this craft.
- Traditional Effigies: The figures of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad take an entire month to complete.
- The Cockroach: The 30-foot-tall symbol of filth takes approximately 3 to 4 days to build.
While the committee views the striking sight of a giant cockroach as a tool for public health awareness, the AAP views it as a distortion of religious practice, setting the stage for a heated legal and political battle ahead of the festival.