• Source:JND
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Opposition parties, including the Congress and SP, have been protesting against the government’s proposal of direct recruitment of 45 vacant positions of Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy secretaries through 'Lateral Entry' in the central government. Lateral Entry refers to the direct recruitment of experts from the private sector. Through this process, the governments fill key positions in their ministries.

Former Congress chief and LoP Rahul Gandhi alleged the ruling party was ‘privatising’ the IAS to eliminate reservation. Responding to his allegations, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav tore into the Opposition, asserting that the Congress's hypocrisy on the issue was evident as it was the UPA government that introduced the provision of Lateral Entry.

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“INC hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry. The second Admin Reforms Commission (ARC) was established in 2005 under UPA government. Shri Veerappa Moily chaired it. UPA period ARC recommended recruitment of experts to fill the gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge,” Vaishnav postd on X.

The Railways Minister said the appointments on the posts will be done by the UPSC in fair manner. “NDA government has created a transparent method to implement this recommendation. Recruitment will be done through UPSC in a transparent and fair manner. This reform will improve governance,” he added.

Besides Congress, Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party had also rebuked the government over the issue.

Noting that the provision was a direct violation of the Constitution, former UP CM Mayawati said the positions should be filled by implementing a quota system for SC, ST, and OBC categories.

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SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP was conspiring to place its ideological allies in high UPSC positions through the backdoor. He claimed that this entire manoeuvre was aimed at depriving the PDA of its reservations and rights.

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