Kapil Mishra calls critics of cockroach effigy burning 'political termites' after AAP complaint: 'Feeling the pain'

Delhi Minister and BJP leader Kapil Mishra on Wednesday hit back at critics of the burning of a 30-foot cockroach effigy during Dussehra celebrations, saying those he described as political "termites" were upset by the act. The controversy erupted after a cockroach effigy was burnt alongside those of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad at an event organised by the Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee in NSP, Pitampura, Delhi, on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Mishra defended the symbolism behind the effigy, arguing that it represented filth and disorder. He also said the public wanted such effigies to be burnt. "The effigy being burnt is that of a cockroach, yet it is the 'termites' -- the political termites of this nation -- who are feeling the pain. The public has its own unique 'pesticide' to deal with them. A cockroach is a symbol of filth and chaos... the people want such effigies to be burnt; just as anti-national forces emerge, their defeat in India is inevitable", Mishra said, according to ANI. The remarks came after AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj approached Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Police Commissioner with a complaint against the organisers. The complaint names the committee's president, BJP MLA Ashok Goel, and Mishra, among others, and seeks the registration of an FIR over the burning of the effigy. Bharadwaj alleged that the act deliberately hurt religious sentiments, altered sacred Hindu traditions and attempted to create enmity between communities. He also called for the removal of the allegedly offensive content from media platforms. "I have sent a Complaint to @LtGovDelhi and @CPDelhi against the organizers of the Shree Keshav Ramleela Committee (NSP Pitampura) including it's president Mr Ashok Kumar Sevraha BJP MLA, Mr Kapil Mishra (Minister, GNCTD) for deliberately hurting religious sentiments, altering sacred Hindu traditions, attempting to incite enmity between communities, and demanding the immediate removal of offensive content from media platforms. I have requested to register FIR , however, if it does not happen, we will move Court", the AAP leader wrote on X. In another post, Bharadwaj reacted to a video showing the 30-foot cockroach effigy, which had been shared with the caption, "Delhi never disappoints". "It's not Delhi, it's ur (your) BJP MLA", he wrote. The episode has drawn attention amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, against the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The group has also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP had earlier emerged as a prominent participant in a student-led protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in July over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2026. The protest culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.