'Absolutely Not In Favor': Chirag Paswan On Lateral Entry To UPSC

Chirag Paswan who is the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and MP from Hajipur, called the lateral entry in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) ‘completely wrong’ and said to raise the issue in front of the government. He is the first NDA ally to criticize the government’s decision to 45 posts in the bureaucracy via lateral entry.

The UPSC on August 17 issued an advertisement for ‘talented and motivated Indian nationals for Lateral Recruitment’ to a total of 45 posts of joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary in 24 ministries of the Union Government.

Under the ‘Lateral Entry’ to bureaucracy, individuals are recruited to the traditional government service cadre to directly fill mid and senior-level positions. The recruitment through lateral entry which started under Modi 2.0, announced vacancies in 2018. Candidates are usually hired for three to five years, with potential extension of services, based on their performance.

Read also: Lateral Entry And Reservation Controversy: Explained

Paswan talking about the LJP (RV) stand on the lateral entry said that his party was ‘absolutely not in favour’ of such appointments. He said that in case of government appointments, the provision of reservation must be followed. Calling it a matter of concern Hajipur MP said that despite his party being a part of the government, he objects to the lateral entry and will bring forth these issues on the platform.

The opposition has also attacked the lateral entry issue. Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha, called it an ‘attack on Dalits, OBCs and adivasis’. He said that the BJP is trying to destroy the Constitution and snatch away the reservation of Bahujans”.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized the ruling government and said that the BJP has launched a double attack on the reservation. Kharge accused the BJP government of sidelining the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) in job recruitment.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also criticized the recruitment as a “dirty joke” and accused the Modi government of “ending reservation in a very systematic, planned, and cunning manner.”