Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Pune BJP Youth Posters Link Pilot Tribute to Political Slogan
A political youth group put up banners in Pune about Captain Smit Machchhar.
The banners said people should be a “Machchhar, not a cockroach.”
This was a wordplay on the captain’s surname and a dig at the Cockroach Janta Party.
The group shared a banner on Instagram on October 3.
Some people liked the joke, while others thought it was disrespectful to use the captain’s name in politics.
The captain had been flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
Reports say his co-pilot stabbed him and tried to crash the plane.
Machchhar fought back, and the co-pilot was arrested.
Machchhar is recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Banners put up by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Pune urged people to be a “Machchhar, not a cockroach.”
The slogan referred to Captain Smit Machchhar and the Cockroach Janta Party; the banners included the captain’s photo.
The youth wing shared a banner on its official Instagram page on October 3.
Some social media users praised the wordplay, while others called it distasteful or objected to using the captain’s surname politically.
Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flydubai flight on September 30; reports say he fought off the co-pilot, who was arrested.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Pune put up the banners, referring to Captain Smit Machchhar and the Cockroach Janta Party.
- What
- The banners used the slogan “Be a Machchhar, not a cockroach,” prompting mixed reactions.
- When
- The flight incident took place on September 30; the youth wing posted a banner on Instagram on October 3.
- Where
- The banners were seen in Pune, India; the flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- Why
- The slogan used Machchhar’s surname to make a political jab at the Cockroach Janta Party.
Critics
Supporters
Using the captain’s surname
Critics
Critics said using Machchhar’s surname in a political slogan was distasteful or degrading, and that his actions should not be politicised.
Supporters
Some users appreciated the wordplay and the banner’s call to emulate the captain’s courage.
Political message
Critics
Critics argued the banner turned a selfless act into a political stunt and demeaned student demonstrators.
Supporters
The slogan presented Machchhar as an example while taking a jab at the Cockroach Janta Party.
- Poster group
- Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Pune
- Slogan
- “When life gives you a chance, be a Machchhar, not a cockroach”
- Instagram post
- The youth wing shared a banner on its official Instagram page on October 3.
- Flight incident
- September 30, aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar, who is recovering at a hospital in Abu Dhabi
- Co-pilot
- Hamam al-Hammami; the articles say he was arrested.
- Public response
- Some users praised the wordplay; others called it distasteful or objected to linking the captain’s surname with politics.
