Rapper, singer and social media personality Santy Sharma on Saturday unveiled his public awareness campaign, "Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti," during a press conference in Andheri West, Mumbai, outlining what he described as an independent initiative aimed at encouraging public discussion on reservation-related issues through digital platforms.
The event drew members of the media and actor Puneet Vasishtha, known for his appearance on Bigg Boss, who publicly endorsed the campaign and participated in the media interaction.
Sharma said he convened the press conference after weeks of facing questions on social media regarding his views on reservation, the CJP, his music, alleged political affiliations and future projects. Rather than responding individually online, he said he chose to address the issues collectively before the media.
Introducing the campaign, Sharma said "Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti" would initially operate through social media, beginning with a dedicated Instagram page, with additional digital platforms expected to be launched in the coming months. According to Sharma, the initiative seeks to encourage public participation and broaden discussions surrounding reservation policies.
During the question-and-answer session, journalists repeatedly asked Sharma about his criticism of the CJP. Responding to those questions, Sharma said he supports students and believes educational issues should remain a national priority. At the same time, he said he opposes what he described as the politicization of student protests.
Sharma further alleged that some demonstrations associated with the organization included individuals who were not students and claimed that incidents of vandalism and public disorder during protests were unacceptable. He emphasized that his criticism was directed at the organization's leadership and functioning rather than students themselves. Those remarks reflected Sharma's personal views expressed during the press conference.
The rapper also rejected suggestions that he was acting on behalf of any political party. Sharma said he has no association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress or any other political organization and denied receiving political funding. According to him, he decided to launch the campaign independently because, in his view, reservation-related issues are not being actively pursued by major political parties.
Actor Puneet Vasishtha voiced support for the campaign, describing it as an initiative intended to promote discussion on merit, equal opportunity and education policy. Expressing his personal opinion, Vasishtha said economically weaker individuals should receive assistance irrespective of caste while competitive examinations should maintain equal academic standards for all candidates. He added that public debate on education, employment and long-term national development should continue.
Questions also turned to Sharma's entertainment career. Asked whether he might participate in a future season of Bigg Boss or another reality television program, Sharma declined to comment on speculation, saying he prefers to announce projects only after they become official.
Addressing the removal of his YouTube channel, Sharma said he believes it was deleted after receiving a large number of reports following his public comments about the CJP. He said YouTube informed him that the channel could not be restored and added that he is preparing to launch a new channel.
Responding to criticism over explicit language in his rap music, Sharma defended hip-hop as a form of artistic expression, saying the genre has historically provided a platform to express emotion, frustration and social realities. He said his music is intended as creative expression rather than personal attacks and noted that mature content is released with age restrictions for adult audiences.
Toward the end of the event, Sharma shared excerpts from his upcoming song, "August Kranti," which he said addresses themes including reservation, governance, public infrastructure and issues affecting ordinary citizens. He described the song as an extension of the campaign's message and said music would remain one of the primary mediums through which he intends to engage with the public.
The press conference concluded with an open interaction between the speakers and journalists. Sharma said the "Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti" initiative would continue through social media outreach, public engagement and future awareness campaigns, while Vasishtha reaffirmed his support for continued public dialogue on education and related policy issues.
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