Rahul Gandhi slams lateral entry scheme

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday described the move as an “anti-national step,” alleging that the reservation rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs are being “openly snatched away” by such actions. Gandhi’s criticism followed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) advertisement for 45 posts — 10 for joint secretaries and 35 for directors/deputy secretaries — to be filled through lateral entry on a contract basis. These positions are within different Central ministries and are traditionally reserved for All India Services officers such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IFoS, and other Group A officials.

The advertisement invites applications from officers in state/Union Territory governments at equivalent levels in their cadres with relevant experience, individuals working in PSUs, autonomous bodies, universities, recognised research institutions, and candidates from private sector companies, consultancy organisations, and multinational organisations.

Meanwhile, the SP and BSP have slammed the government’s move terming it as the BJP’s “conspiracy” to appoint its ideological allies to high posts through the back door. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also warned of an agitation from October 2. In a post on ‘X’, Yadav said, “Time has come to launch a nationwide movement against the conspiracy of the BJP to appoint its ideological allies to high government posts in UPSC through back door.”

“This method will close the way for today's officers as well as the youth to reach higher posts in the present and future. Common people will be limited to clerks and peons only. In fact, the whole trick is to snatch reservation and their rights from PDA (backward, Dalit and minorities),” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister charged.

BSP chief Mayawati also flayed the decision, saying employees working on lower posts will be deprived of the benefit of promotion.

“Along with this, if the people of SC, ST and OBC categories are not given appointment in proportion to their quota in these government appointments, then it will be a direct violation of the Constitution,” she said.

Tweeting about the advertisement, the PM’s economic adviser, Sanjeev Sanyal, mentioned that there was initial resistance to these recruitments but noted, “with several batches now inducted, the system now has a critical mass of laterals. So, this is much less of an issue."Criticizing the move, Mr. Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission.""Reservation for SC, ST, and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry into important posts in various central government ministries. I have always said that the underprivileged are not represented in top positions in the country, including the top bureaucracy. Instead of addressing this, they are being further marginalized through the lateral entry scheme. This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for the UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice, including reservation for the deprived," Mr. Gandhi stated.He further pointed out that the appointment of a private sector individual as the chairperson of SEBI is a prime example of what could happen when key government positions are occupied by representatives of a few corporates. "INDIA will strongly oppose this anti-national move that undermines both the administrative structure and social justice. 'Privatization of IAS' is 'Modi's guarantee' to end reservation," Mr. Gandhi added.