Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi Govt’s Lateral Entry Move, Alleges Reservation 'Snatching', Cites SEBI Row
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi criticises the Modi government's lateral entry recruitment process, alleging that it undermines UPSC and favors RSS affiliates, depriving marginalised communities of reservations.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticised the Union government's recent push to recruit specialists through lateral entry into key government positions, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of bypassing the traditional recruitment process conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Gandhi alleged that the move undermines the Constitution and favours individuals with affiliations to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
In a Hindi post on X, Gandhi expressed his concerns, stating, "Narendra Modi is attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the RSS instead of the UPSC. By recruiting through lateral entry for important positions in various central ministries, the government is openly snatching away reservations meant for SC, ST, and OBC communities. I have always maintained that the lack of representation of the marginalised in top bureaucracy and other crucial positions is being exacerbated by this lateral entry system."
नरेंद्र मोदी संघ लोक सेवा आयोग की जगह ‘राष्ट्रीय स्वयं सेवक संघ’ के ज़रिए लोकसेवकों की भर्ती कर संविधान पर हमला कर रहे हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2024
केंद्र सरकार के विभिन्न मंत्रालयों में महत्वपूर्ण पदों पर लेटरल एंट्री के ज़रिए भर्ती कर खुलेआम SC, ST और OBC वर्ग का आरक्षण छीना जा रहा है।
मैंने हमेशा…
Gandhi went on to describe the lateral entry initiative as a "robbery of the rights of talented youth" and an assault on the very concept of social justice. He warned, "A prime example of what representatives of a few corporates will do by occupying key government positions is SEBI, where for the first time a person from the private sector has been made the chairperson," referring to the appointment of Madhabi Puri Buch, who is facing allegations of conflicts of interest following a report from US short-seller Hindenburg Research.
BJP Challenges Congress & Rahul Gandhi's Lateral Entry Claims
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making dishonest remarks regarding the government's lateral entry recruitment policy.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini accused the Congress of 'hypocrisy' as he said that the reform measure would improve governance.
"INC (Indian National Congress) hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry, he said.He said the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), chaired by Veerappa Moily, was established in 2005 by the then Congress-led UPA government.UPA period ARC recommended recruitment of experts to fill the gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge," Vaishnaw posted on X.
He highlighted that the NDA government has created a transparent method to implement the recommendation made by the ARC helmed by Moily and further mentioned that recruitment for the lateral entry will be done through the Union Public Service Commission in a transparent and fair manner.
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT department, dismissed Gandhi's claims in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He asserted that during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, lateral recruitments were conducted without any standard process. Malviya highlighted that the current government has introduced established guidelines to ensure these appointments adhere to the reservation system, thus preserving quota allocations.
Lateral entry
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 18, 2024
INC hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry.
The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it.
UPA period ARC…
"By eliminating that ad-hocism, the government of India has now ensured that lateral entries are made on the basis of established guidelines so that there is no impact on the quota and reservation system," he remarked.
Malviya referenced several official documents to support his argument. He pointed to a 2016 memorandum from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which mandated that lateral recruitments follow the reservation roster. A 2019 DoPT memorandum reiterated the importance of maintaining these reservation policies. Additionally, a 2020 office memorandum from the Union Home Ministry reinforced the necessity of adhering to reservation guidelines for lateral entries.
Malviya stated, “Due to the above provisions, all the legal provisions and reservation rules that apply to officers selected through any other UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) process will also be applicable to lateral entries.” He challenged Gandhi to cease spreading misinformation, questioning, “How many times does one have to explain the same thing to 'balak buddhi'” – a derogatory term meaning ‘childish intellect’.
बालक बुद्धि को एक ही बात कितनी बार समझानी पड़ेगी?
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 18, 2024
2018 में भी इसी तरह का भ्रम फैलाने का प्रयास किया था। लेकिन जब डॉ. मनमोहन सिंह और मोंटेक सिंह अहलूवालिया जैसे कई प्रमुख विशेषज्ञ पार्श्व प्रवेशकर्ताओं (lateral entrants) पर सवाल पूछे गए, तो कांग्रेस को जैसे मानो सांप ही सूंघ… https://t.co/bJ0L5qQpfZ
He further accused Gandhi of attempting to create confusion similar to a 2018 controversy and pointed out that the Congress had previously appointed lateral entrants like Dr Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh Ahluwalia without a standardised process. Malviya questioned the impact of such appointments on the reservation system and the morale of civil servants at that time.
Kharge Claims ‘Double Attack On Reservation’ Over Modi Govt’s Lateral Entry Push
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the move, calling it a "deliberate attempt" to sideline SC, ST, and OBC communities from crucial government roles. In his own post on X, Kharge accused the BJP of conducting a "double attack on reservation," asserting that the recruitment process is designed to exclude marginalised communities from these positions.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have echoed these concerns, labelling the government's move as the BJP's "conspiracy" to appoint its ideological allies to high posts through the back door. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has even warned of a potential agitation on this issue starting from 2 October.
The Modi government has defended the lateral entry process, arguing that it is intended to bring fresh talent and specialised knowledge into governance. The UPSC has advertised 45 such positions, which include roles such as joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries across various central ministries, to be filled on a contractual basis.
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