• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Activist Deepak Sharma protested Yamuna pollution in Mathura.
  2. He wore a cockroach costume at the municipal office.
  3. Demanded action against sewage discharge into the river.

Uttar Pradesh: To draw attention to the pollution in the Yamuna River, a man showed up at the Mathura municipal corporation office on Friday dressed head-to-toe as a cockroach.

Man Dresses As 'Cockroach' To Draw Attention To Pollution In Yamuna

Social activist Deepak Sharma donned a 'cockroach' costume on Friday to protest the severe pollution in the Yamuna River. He warned the Mathura municipal officials that if the issues were not addressed immediately, the condition of the Yamuna River would worsen in the coming days.

ALSO READ: Dainik Jagran Wins Prestigious 'Publisher of the Year' Title At ABBY Awards 2026 After INMA Success In Berlin

Speaking to news agency PTI, Sharma said that he was compelled to dress as a cockroach to draw the attention of the 'incompetent' officials, whom he accused of ignoring the river's pollution and widespread filth in the city. Municipal officials, however, did comment on the protest.

This incident comes the day after the launch of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP), a satirical social media account, which has launched a campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

The platform surfaced last week amid widespread controversy over remarks by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant about 'cockroaches' and 'parasites' during a court hearing.

The CJI later clarified that his remarks, directed at individuals entering the legal profession with fake degrees, had been misquoted.

Crowd Gathers At Mathura Municipal Office As Man Protests Yamuna Pollution In 'Cockroach' Costume

As Sharma arrived at the municipal office in the cockroach costume, a crowd gathered to watch him, with many filming the demonstration on their mobile phones.

ALSO READ: Major Setback For SP Leader Azam Khan, Rampur Court Increases Jail Term To 10 Years, Raises Fine

"We, the residents of Braj, perform the 'aachaman' ritual of sipping water from the Yamuna. Yet, despite years of promises to rid the river of pollution, nothing has been done. Be it Mathura or Vrindavan, polluted water and sewage from filthy drains can be seen flowing openly into the river. Yet, the officials remain indifferent, turning a blind eye to the situation," PTI quoted Sharma as saying.

He further stated that the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was specifically enacted "to protect rivers from pollution. It clearly stipulates that discharging polluted water or sewage into a river constitutes a punishable offence."

"The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have also clarified that direct discharge of sewage and drain water into any river is a criminal act," he added.

Sharma also urged the public to join him in filing FIRs against officials, who he claimed were violating the rules they were meant to uphold. During his protest, he also stood in front of the cards of senior officials.

(With Inputs From PTI)


Also In News