Cockroach Effect: 'Reservation Hatao Andolan' Becomes New Social Media Sensation, Amasses 4.8 Million Instagram Followers

The internet and social media have been witnessing a wave of issue-based online campaigns for the past few weeks, especially after the formation of Cockroach Janta Party, which spearheaded a successful protest against the NEET paper leak. Amid the trend, a new campaign against reservation has started on Instagram with the name Reservation Hatao Andolan (RHA).

The page has already attained 4.8 million followers within a short period of time. What's interesting about the online campaign is that it has drawn the group's slogan or punch line, 'Educate Agitate Organise' from Dr BR Ambedkar, who championed the reservation concept in the Indian Constitution.

The online campaign drew further appreciation from its followers for describing it as a citizen-led movement with no political affiliation. The campaign came in the aftermath of CJP's emergence at the civil society level to protest against the paper leak in the medical entrance examination.

The page has amassed 4.8 million followers with just 109 posts. The profile's bio reads: "Backed by citizens who believe reform deserves a voice."

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Apart from BR Ambedkar's slogan, the page also has a Hindi line, "Saari Jaati Ek Samaan, Mera Bas Ye Desh Mahaan' (All the castes are equal, only my nation is great).

In one of the posts, the RHA founder explained that it is not affiliated to any political party and that he has now concluded that no change in government will bring an end to reservation.

"Like many citizens, we once believed that a change in government might bring major reforms to the reservation system. BJP failed to do so. Instead, reservation policies continued to evolve and expand. Our conclusion is simple: this issue cannot be reduced to party politics. Our focus is on the policy, not the party. This is a citizen-led movement, independent of every political party," the founder said in the video post.

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What RHA demands

The RHA is demanding an end to caste-based reservation. To do so, the RHA demands that the government should stop requiring or recognising caste identity in everyday public life, including in admission forms, employment applications, government schemes and other public processes.

The RHA said its long-term goal was 'One Nation. One Identity. Indian.' and concluded its proposal with the slogan, 'Remove Reservation. Remove Casteism.'