The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke just over two months ago, has significantly influenced Indian youth, particularly Gen Z, with its stance on education. The movement reportedly led to the resignation of a Union Minister, highlighting the power of satire in political discourse. This success has inspired a wave of similar campaigns, each addressing various social issues, and they have rapidly proliferated across social media platforms.

Among the numerous campaigns initiated, some take playful approaches, such as the Daaru Janta Party and Kabootar Janta Party. Others, like the E20 Janta Party, address serious concerns like the rising discontent surrounding ethanol-blended petrol. However, the most prominent of these new movements is the Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA), which has emerged as a critical player in the political landscape.

Understanding the Reservation Hatao Andolan

The Reservation Hatao Andolan advocates for the elimination of caste-based reservations and the cessation of caste census practices. As protests led by the CJP unfolded across the country last week, RHA’s online presence surged, amassing over 5.6 million followers on Instagram, surpassing even established political parties like the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, which have fewer followers.

In comparison, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) boasts 9.6 million followers, while the Indian National Congress has 14.9 million. Earlier this year, Dipke’s CJP achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing 20 million followers on Instagram, outpacing all traditional political entities on the platform. Riding on this wave of significance, RHA aims to combat caste-based discrimination and promote equal rights for individuals across society.

The movement has a clear mission, reflected in the bio of its Instagram account, which states it is “backed by citizens discarded by reservation politics, driven by merit.” Notably, it employs the words of Bharat Ratna Dr B.R. Ambedkar, pushing the message that honour is achieved through virtue and discipline. The RHA’s motto, “Equality, Merit, Justice,” underscores its commitment to these principles.

Campaigns Against Caste-Based Reservations

The individuals behind the Reservation Hatao Andolan remain anonymous, with the movement asserting it is citizen-led and unaffiliated with any political party. In various communications, RHA has expressed disillusionment with the existing political climate, stating, “We are not aligned with any political party… The BJP failed to enact vital reforms regarding the reservation system.” They advocate for reservations exclusively for certain categories, including the specially abled, orphans, and martyr’s children.

The current reservation ceiling is set at 50 per cent, despite calls from several political factions to extend this limit. RHA promotes the idea that the government should not identify citizens by caste, emphasising unity under the notion of “One Nation. One Identity.” This stance is articulated in their posts, which argue for the removal of caste-related markers from government documents and applications.

In response to the growing popularity of the RHA, multiple campaigns against reservations have surfaced, such as the General Janta Party and the Anti-Reservation Janta Party. These movements focus on different aspects of caste issues, with initiatives like the Casteism Hatao Movement seeking to tackle caste discrimination itself, asserting, “Justice begins where caste ends.” Another prominent concern raised recently involves the push for E20 petrol, with a new campaign gathering support to demand a choice for consumers to access unblended petrol. The developments signal a crucial moment in social advocacy within India’s youth-led movements.

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