Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Modi Government's Lateral Entry, Calls It Attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Narendra Modi's government of undermining the reservation policy through lateral entry in top government positions, alleging it harms Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. Other leaders joined the criticism, calling the move unconstitutional and a conspiracy to benefit ideological allies.

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led Centre regarding the lateral entry of individuals into top government positions. He argued that this move is an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis, alleging it undermines the constitutional reservation policies. Gandhi took to social media platform X, writing, 'Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. BJP's distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from Bahujans.'

Another Congress leader, Pramod Tiwari, condemned the policy, calling it contrary to the country's reservation policy. 'This government is so against the reservation. What the UPA government recommended was not exactly this that you hire so many people through lateral entry. I want to strongly condemn it. This is against the administrative system of the country. This is also against the reservation policy of the country,' said Tiwari.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the Centre, labeling the move a 'big conspiracy' against the country. He claimed that the lateral entry was a plan to take away reservations and rights from PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities. Yadav stated, 'The time has come to launch a nationwide movement against the conspiracy being hatched by the BJP to place its ideological allies in high government positions through the back door in UPSC. This method will close the doors for today's officers as well as for the youth to reach higher positions in the present and future. Common people will be limited to the positions of clerks and peons. In fact, the whole plan is to snatch away reservations and rights from PDA.'

The UPSC recently issued a notification to recruit Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry, igniting criticism from opposition parties who argue it undermines the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs. Rahul Gandhi further expressed his concerns, alleging that Prime Minister Modi is appointing public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) instead of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 'Reservation of SC, ST, and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government,' Gandhi said on X.

(With inputs from agencies.)