Santy Sharma launches Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti in Mumbai with actor Puneet Vasishtha, reveals future roadmap for the movement

Rapper, singer and social media personality Santy Sharma on Saturday announced a public awareness campaign titled "Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti" at a press conference in Andheri West, Mumbai. Actor Puneet Vasishtha, known for his appearance on Bigg Boss, attended the event and expressed support for the initiative.

Sharma said the press conference was organised to address questions surrounding his recent social media posts, including his views on reservation, criticism of a students' body he referred to as "CJP", his music and speculation about his political affiliations. He said he chose to respond to these issues collectively instead of replying individually online.

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Campaign to begin on social media

Sharma described "Arakshan Hatao – August Kranti" as an independent public movement aimed at encouraging discussion on reservation-related issues and increasing public participation through digital platforms.

He said the campaign would initially operate through social media, including a dedicated Instagram page, with additional online platforms to be introduced later. Sharma added that he hoped to receive support from people who shared his concerns and planned to expand the campaign's outreach in the coming months.

CJP controversy

A significant portion of the interaction focused on Sharma's criticism of the organisation he referred to as "CJP".

Sharma said he supported students and believed education should remain a national priority. However, he said he opposed what he described as the politicisation of student protests. He alleged that some demonstrations linked to the organisation involved individuals who were not students and said vandalism during protests was unacceptable. He added that his criticism was directed at the organisation's leadership and functioning rather than students.

These remarks reflect Sharma's personal claims and opinions made during the press conference. The organisation referred to has not responded to the allegations, and the claims have not been independently verified.

Sharma rejects political affiliation claims

Responding to allegations about his political links, Sharma denied being associated with any political party.

He said he had no connection with the BJP, the Congress or any other political organisation and had never accepted political funding. Sharma added that he launched the campaign independently because, in his view, no major political party was actively pursuing the reservation-related issues he wanted to highlight.

Puneet Vasishtha backs initiative

Puneet Vasishtha said he supported the campaign, describing it as an effort to encourage public discussion on merit, equal opportunity and education policy.

Sharing his personal opinion, the actor said economically weaker individuals should receive assistance regardless of caste and that competitive examinations should maintain equal academic standards for all candidates. He said opportunities should be linked to merit while ensuring financial support for those in need and called for wider public discussion on education and employment.

Entertainment plans and YouTube channel

When asked about a possible appearance on a future season of Bigg Boss or another reality show, Sharma declined to comment, saying he preferred to announce projects only after they were confirmed.

Addressing the deletion of his YouTube channel, Sharma said he believed it had been removed after receiving a large number of reports following his public statements. He said he had been informed that the channel could not be restored and that he was preparing to launch a new one.

Responding to criticism over explicit language in his music, Sharma said hip-hop has historically served as a medium for expressing emotions and social realities. He added that his songs are released with age restrictions for adult audiences and are intended as artistic expression rather than personal attacks.

Upcoming song unveiled

Towards the end of the press conference, Sharma shared excerpts from his upcoming song, "August Kranti", which he said explores themes such as reservation, governance and everyday civic issues. He described the track as an extension of the campaign's message.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which Sharma and Vasishtha said they would continue engaging with the public through future campaigns and media interactions.