Delhi Ramlila to burn 30-foot 'cockroach' effigy alongside Ravan

NEW DELHI: A 30-foot-tall "cockroach" effigy will be set ablaze alongside those of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad at a Ramleela in the national capital this year.The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises the Ramleela in Pitampura, said the insect symbolises "filth and dirt" and that the initiative is part of the "Swachh Bharat" and "Swachh Delhi" campaigns.Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel told PTI that the decision was not politically motivated.He said burning the cockroach effigy was intended to reinforce the message of the victory of good over evil and cleanliness.Goel said the "cockroach" would also be included among the 'asuras' in Ravan's army.The decision comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital, first against former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and now seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.In June and July, the group staged a protest at Jantar Mantar for over a month and marched to Parliament on July 20, eventually forcing Pradhan to resign as minister.The CJP has returned to the streets, joining opposition parties and student organisations in demonstrations seeking the CEC's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.The protests in Delhi resulted in the detention of several activists, students and journalists.

(With inputs from PTI)