BJP Calls Out Rahul Gandhi on Lateral Recruitment Claims

The BJP refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's assertion that the government's lateral recruitment initiative undermines reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs, highlighting that such recruitments during Congress's tenure lacked formal processes. BJP emphasized that current guidelines ensure adherence to reservation policies, countering Congress's previous ad-hoc approach.

The BJP on Sunday vehemently refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that the government's lateral recruitment initiative would undermine reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. The party asserted that this claim is unfounded.

In a statement on X, Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT department, stated that lateral recruitments during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance era were conducted without any formal process. Malviya emphasized that the current government has regularized this system to adhere to established guidelines, ensuring no impact on the reservation system.

Malviya cited multiple official memoranda issued between 2016 and 2020 by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Home Ministry, which mandate strict adherence to reservation policies. He accused Gandhi of spreading misinformation and reminded that similar allegations were previously made in 2018.

(With inputs from agencies.)