BJP ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has strongly criticized any initiative for government appointments, which is against the principles of reservation. He said that there is no if-but in this. He emphasized that such provisions are necessary in government jobs. He said that he will raise this issue with the central government.
Chirag Paswan’s statement has come when opposition parties are attacking the Center regarding lateral entry in UPSC. The opposition alleges that through such a provision an attempt is being made to snatch the reservation of backward castes.
What did Union Minister Chirag Paswan say?
Chirag Paswan said, “There should be a provision of reservation in any government appointment. There is no doubt about it. There is no reservation in the private sector and if it is not implemented on government posts also… This information was given on Sunday. It came to my attention and it is a matter of concern for me.”
Also read: ‘Privatization of IAS is a guarantee of ending reservation…’, Rahul Gandhi angry at Center over lateral entry in UPSC.
Chirag Paswan said that as a member of the government, he has the platform to raise this issue and he will do so. The Union Minister also said that as far as his party is concerned, it is not in support of such a measure at all.
UPSC has announced recruitment for 45 posts.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently announced recruitment for 45 posts through lateral entry on contract basis. These include 10 posts for Joint Secretaries and 35 posts for Directors or Deputy Secretaries. This step of the Commission is being strongly opposed.
Opposition parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) allege that this is a deliberate attempt by the BJP to end the reservation policy and recruit allies to important posts.
Government defends lateral entry system
Responding to the criticism, the BJP defended the lateral entry initiative, saying it was aimed at increasing transparency in the recruitment processes introduced under the previous Congress-led UPA government.
Also read: ‘Reservation is being taken away…’, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on direct recruitment through UPSC
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav termed Congress’s opposition as hypocritical and said that the lateral entry initiative was proposed by the UPA’s Second Administrative Reforms Commission. He said that the NDA government is respecting and implementing these recommendations in a transparent manner to improve the quality of governance.