cong-claims-victory-after-centre-scraps-upsc-lateral-entries

The Union Government's recent decision to cancel the UPSC advertisement for lateral entry into mid-level Central Government posts has sparked political reactions, particularly from opposition leaders.

 

The move, seen as a victory by the Congress, has led Rahul Gandhi to assert that his party will continue to defend the Constitution and the reservation system against what he describes as the BJP's conspiracies. He emphasised that the party will ensure social justice by pushing for caste-based reservations and breaking the 50% reservation limit.

 

The decision to cancel the lateral entry advertisement followed a letter from the Department of Personnel and Training Minister, Jitendra Singh, to the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission.

 

The letter, written under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed the need to align lateral entry processes with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution.

 

Singh's letter highlighted the importance of reservations in public employment as a cornerstone of social justice, aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity.

 

Singh also pointed out that lateral entries in the past, especially before 2014, were often made in an ad-hoc manner, sometimes involving favouritism. In contrast, the current government has sought to make the process more transparent and institutionally driven.

 

The letter emphasised that positions designated for lateral entry have been treated as specialised posts, with no provision for reservations, a situation that requires review and reform in line with the Prime Minister's focus on social justice.

 

Rahul Gandhi's strong reaction was echoed by other senior Congress leaders. Manickam Tagore praised the cancellation as a victory for the Constitution, suggesting that it highlighted the strength of the opposition against a weakening government.

 

Other opposition leaders, such as Akhilesh Yadav, MK Stalin, and Sitaram Yechury, had also voiced their opposition to the lateral entry scheme, arguing that it undermined the reservation rights of marginalised communities.

 

Tejashwi Yadav, a prominent leader from Bihar, expressed his disapproval by accusing the BJP and Prime Minister Modi of trying to prevent members of the SC/ST community from advancing in the government. He argued that the lateral entry scheme was an attempt to bypass reservations and fill vacancies with individuals aligned with the Sangh.

 

However, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the lateral entry process, clarifying that these temporary positions do not affect the existing reservation system for regular government openings.

 

He dismissed the opposition's criticism as baseless and pointed out that similar lateral entries had been made by previous governments, including those led by the Congress, but often in a less systematic and transparent manner.