NEW DELHI, Aug 19: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s move to induct experts and specialists into the bureaucracy through lateral entry, which was strongly criticised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, has also met with opposition from one of its allies — the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, LJP chief Chirag Paswan said the lateral entry scheme of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was “completely wrong” as it bypasses the reservation system and deprives the backward classes of an opportunity for recruitment to top posts.
Voicing concerns over the lateral entry of experts in government departments and ministries, Paswan said his party would raise the matter with the Central government. “My party believes that all government recruitments should include provisions for the reservation system. Since reservations are not available in the private sector, they should definitely be present in government sectors,” the LJP chief said.
“Reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There are no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well… The information came up before me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me,” he said.
“In this lateral entry scheme, the reservation system has not been considered, which is a matter of concern for all of us. Even though I am part of the government, my party is not in favour of this,” Paswan added. “We will raise the matter with the government at the right forum,” he said.
LJP’s opposition to the lateral entry scheme comes close on the heels of the Opposition accusing the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to deny the backward classes their right to earn representation in government departments. The Congress and other INDIA bloc constituents have opposed the scheme, calling it an “assault on the concept of social justice” and also an attempt to “infiltrate” RSS-affiliated men in top posts.
The BJP had strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi for opposing the scheme and calling it “privatisation of IAS” scheme.
Notably, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued a notification calling for applications from experts for filling 45 senior positions in various ministers, at the ranks of Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries. The purpose of lateral entry is to bring people with domain expertise and technical know-how into the respective departments for steering effective policy making, the government had claimed.
The Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have alleged that it was a “conspiracy” by the BJP to appoint its ideological allies to high posts through the back door. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that while the UPA government introduced lateral entry to appoint select experts in some areas, the NDA government was using it to “snatch the rights” of Dalits, tribals and backward classes. “SC, ST, OBC, EWS posts will now be given to people of the RSS. This is BJP’s ‘Chakravyuh’ to change the Constitution by snatching reservation,” Mr Kharge alleged.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said the Congress’ criticism of the lateral entry system exposes its “hypocrisy.” In a post on X, Mr Vaishnaw said. “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.
(Manas Dasgupta)
