Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday declared that his party’s sustained campaign led to the government’s decision to seek the cancellation of the controversial lateral entry recruitment of bureaucrats. He warned that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological ally, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), would continue to devise new tactics to weaken reservation policies as long as they remain in power.
Kharge’s Remarks
Kharge celebrated the cancellation as a victory for the Constitution and social justice, stating, “Long live the Constitution! The Congress’s fight for social justice for our Dalits, tribals, backward and weaker sections has foiled the BJP’s plans to snatch away reservation.” He cited a letter by Union Minister Jitendra Singh to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson Preeti Sudan, which urged the cancellation of the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment.
Kharge credited the power of the Constitution and the collective efforts of Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) for forcing the government to retreat from its position. He tagged Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, emphasizing that the Congress’s and allied parties’ campaigns played a crucial role in this outcome. However, Kharge cautioned that vigilance is necessary as the BJP and RSS will likely continue their attempts to undermine reservation.
The Controversy Over Lateral Entry
The controversy began when the government advertised 46 posts to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. This method allows experts in specific fields to be inducted directly into government services, bypassing the usual civil services exam process. The Opposition, including leaders like Rahul Gandhi, criticized this move, alleging it was a ploy to dilute caste-based reservations. Union Minister Chirag Paswan was also among those who opposed the scheme.
Lateral entry recruitment does not currently include provisions for reservations, as these positions are treated as specialized and designated as single-cadre posts. In his letter to Sudan, Jitendra Singh highlighted the need to review and reform this aspect to uphold the constitutional mandate for social justice and ensure rightful representation for marginalized communities in government services.
Government’s Response
In response to the criticism, the government, on Monday, released a list of 10 prominent individuals who were brought into public service through lateral entry by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, attempting to counter the Opposition’s accusations.
Singh’s letter and the subsequent cancellation of the advertisement have been seen as a significant step towards ensuring that social justice principles are upheld in government recruitment practices. Kharge and the Congress party view this as a testament to the power of public pressure and constitutional safeguards against what they perceive as the BJP’s attempts to erode reservation rights.