Rahul Gandhi says reservation of SC, ST and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts….reports Asian Lite News
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took strong objection to the Modi government’s proposal to induct professionals with domain expertise in various ministries on the ranks of Joint Secretary, Director and other senior positions and also likened the move to ‘privatisation of IAS’.
Rahul, also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, accused the government of undermining the Constitution by bypassing the traditional recruitment process under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and claimed that those having affiliations with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are being prioritised.
“Reservation of SC, ST and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government,” Rahul said on X.
He further expressed concern that the underprivileged and marginalised population already remains deprived of its representation in top government positions and said that such lateral entrants will not only destroy the reservation system but will also further rule out chances of representation, particularly from the lower class.
“This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice including reservation for the deprived,” he said on microblogging site X.
Rahul’s remarks come on the back of a fresh push and also the ‘largest’ drive by the Modi government to bring in specialists and experts on key positions in various departments and ministries.
Notably, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued an advertisement on Saturday, notifying about the ‘vacancy’ for 45 domain experts in the rank and pay of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and Directors. Out of 45, ten experts will be hired as Joint Secretaries while the rest will be ‘absorbed’ into the ranks of Directors or deputy secretaries across ministries including finance, electronics, agriculture, environment, and renewable energy.
As the advertisement revealed the government’s plan to give ‘direction and pace’ to the administrative machinery with expert recruits, the Congress and INDIA bloc called it a ‘deliberate attempt’ by the BJP to deprive the SC, ST and OBCs of their role in government departments.
The LoP also stated that the Opposition will strongly oppose this ‘anti-national’ move.
SP, BSP criticise govt’s move
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have fiercely criticised the government’s move to invite lateral entry applications for senior bureaucratic positions, calling it a “conspiracy” by the BJP to appoint ideological allies to key government posts through non-traditional channels.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed strong opposition to the move, warning of a nationwide agitation starting on October 2. He accused the BJP of undermining the traditional path to government posts, particularly targeting the Dalit, backward, and minority communities. In a post on ‘X,’ Yadav claimed the policy was aimed at denying reservations and rights to these groups, effectively closing the door to higher positions for the common man and youth. He warned that the move threatens the Constitution and is a ploy by the BJP to fill government positions with party loyalists.
Yadav also criticised the initiative as an effort to introduce corporate exploitation into the government system, stating that it favors capitalist interests over the welfare of the poor, farmers, and small business owners. He urged officers and youth across the country to join his party’s movement if the BJP does not withdraw the policy.
BSP chief Mayawati echoed Yadav’s sentiments, arguing that the move would deprive lower-level employees of promotions and undermine the constitutional rights of SC, ST, and OBC categories if appointments are not made proportionally. She labeled the lateral entry recruitment process as unconstitutional and illegal.
The Modi government’s plan seeks to recruit 45 specialists, including joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries, through lateral entry. These positions are typically reserved for officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS), and other ‘Group A’ services. The move is seen as a strategy to inject fresh talent and improve governance efficiency.