Praveen Khandelwal on Saurabh Bharadwaj's FIR bid over Dussehra cockroach effigy
Synopsis
A 30-foot cockroach effigy burned at a Delhi Dussehra event has ignited a political firestorm. AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj calls it an insult to Hindu faith and demands an FIR; BJP's Praveen Khandelwal fires back, saying Bharadwaj is 'losing his mental balance.' The row has already reached the Lieutenant Governor's office, turning a festive ritual into a full-blown political clash.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal accused AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj of 'gradually losing his mental balance' over the latter's FIR demand.
The Keshav Ramlila Committee reportedly burned a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside traditional Dussehra effigies of Ravana , Kumbhakarna , and Meghnad .
Bharadwaj filed a written complaint with the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi Police Commissioner , seeking an FIR against BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Devaraha and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra .
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh defended the effigy-burning, citing similar practices at Durga Puja in Bengal.
The committee denied any political motive; Bharadwaj alleged deliberate hurt to religious sentiments and creation of communal hostility.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Praveen Khandelwal on 21 October 2026 sharply criticised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj for seeking a police FIR over the burning of a 30-foot cockroach effigy during a Dussehra celebration in New Delhi. Khandelwal accused Bharadwaj of losing political grounding, as the row over the effigy escalated into a broader clash between the two parties over religion, symbolism, and electoral politics.
Khandelwal's Remarks
Responding to Bharadwaj's FIR demand, Khandelwal said, 'I could not understand what case there is for registering an FIR. I feel Saurabh Bharadwaj is gradually losing his mental balance. Is a cockroach something healthy? A cockroach is a disease, and it is directly linked to cleanliness in the country.'
He went further, stating, 'If a cockroach effigy is being burned keeping cleanliness in mind, why should Saurabh Bharadwaj object? This clearly shows that somewhere there is a thief in his heart.' The remarks underscored the increasingly personal tenor of the political exchange.
What Sparked the Controversy
The row erupted after the Keshav Ramlila Committee reportedly burned the cockroach effigy alongside the traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad as part of its Dussehra programme. Bharadwaj described the act as an insult to the Hindu faith, alleging that BJP leaders were deploying religion for 'cheap politics' against Generation Z. The committee, however, has denied any political motive behind the effigy.
This comes amid an already tense political climate in Delhi, which has seen protests including a demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bharadwaj's Formal Complaint
Bharadwaj has submitted a written complaint to both the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking an FIR against Keshav Ramlila Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Devaraha, as well as Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra. In his complaint, Bharadwaj alleged that the accused had deliberately hurt religious sentiments, altered sacred Hindu traditions, attempted to create communal hostility, and promoted objectionable content through media platforms. He also questioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)'s silence on the matter, arguing that Hindu traditions could not be invoked selectively for political gain.
Other Political Voices
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh defended the effigy-burning practice. 'Cockroaches should be burned, and other effigies representing different forms of demons should also be burned. Look at Durga Puja in Bengal — every pandal features a different form of a demon, and several such effigies are burned,' he said. Ghosh's remarks drew a cultural parallel to argue that burning symbolic effigies of undesirable elements has precedent in Indian festive tradition.
Wider Political Context
The episode is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing rivalry between the BJP and AAP in Delhi, with both parties framing the episode through sharply different lenses — one of public health symbolism and civic messaging, the other of religious sanctity and political exploitation. With Delhi politics already charged ahead of future electoral cycles, this dispute is unlikely to recede quickly.
Point of View
While AAP casts it as an assault on Hindu tradition — a striking role reversal that neither party seems fully comfortable examining. What is notable is Bharadwaj invoking the RSS's silence; that rhetorical move signals AAP is attempting to claim the Hindu-sentiment high ground, a space it has rarely contested so directly. The real question is whether either party's voters find the cockroach a compelling enough symbol to move votes — or whether this is noise ahead of a more consequential electoral contest.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saurabh Bharadwaj seek an FIR over the cockroach effigy?
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that burning a cockroach effigy at the Keshav Ramlila Committee's Dussehra event was an insult to Hindu faith and an attempt to exploit religion for political purposes. He filed a written complaint with the Lieutenant Governor and Delhi Police Commissioner seeking an FIR against BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Devaraha and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra.
What did BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal say about Bharadwaj's demand?
Khandelwal rejected the FIR demand, saying he could not understand what case existed for it, and claimed Bharadwaj was 'gradually losing his mental balance.' He argued that a cockroach is a symbol of disease and burning its effigy aligns with cleanliness messaging, not communal provocation.
Who organised the Dussehra event where the cockroach effigy was burned?
The Keshav Ramlila Committee organised the event, burning the 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside traditional effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad. The committee has denied that the effigy carried any political motive.
What are the specific allegations in Bharadwaj's complaint?
Bharadwaj alleged that the accused deliberately hurt religious sentiments, altered sacred Hindu traditions, attempted to create communal hostility, and promoted objectionable content through media platforms. He also questioned why the RSS had not spoken out on the matter.
How does this controversy fit into the broader Delhi political climate?
The dispute has emerged against a backdrop of already heightened political tensions in Delhi, including protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The BJP-AAP rivalry over religion and civic identity has intensified, with both parties staking competing claims to Hindu sentiment ahead of future electoral contests.
