New Delhi, Oct 16: At the Ramlila grounds in Delhi, a 30-foot-tall effigy of a cockroach will be burnt this year, alongside the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada. The ‘Shri Keshav Ramlila Samiti,’ which organizes the Ramlila in Pitampura, stated that the cockroach symbolizes “filth and squalor.” They added that this initiative is part of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ (Clean India) and ‘Swachh Delhi’ (Clean Delhi) campaigns.
Ashok Goyal, the president of the committee and a BJP MLA, denied that this decision was politically motivated. He explained that the intention behind burning the cockroach effigy is to symbolize the victory of good over evil and to further reinforce the message of cleanliness. Goyal noted that since cockroaches are considered ‘demons’ (rakshasas) within Ravana’s army, they are being included in the Ramlila.
This decision by the ‘Shri Keshav Ramlila Samiti’ comes against the backdrop of protests in Delhi by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), which is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Prior to this, the CJP had held protests in July demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; these protests concluded only after Pradhan resigned.