Rahul Gandhi Criticises Lateral Entry as an “Attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis”

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique against the Narendra Modi-led central government over the practice of lateral entry into top government positions. Gandhi accused the government of undermining the rights of marginalized communities, calling the move an “attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis.”

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi stated, “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.”

The practice of lateral entry allows individuals from the private sector or academia to be appointed to high-ranking government roles, bypassing the traditional Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) route. Critics argue that this undermines the reservation policies that have been constitutionally mandated to ensure representation for historically disadvantaged communities.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also condemned the move, labeling it as anti-reservation and contrary to the administrative system of the country. “This government is against reservations. The UPA government’s recommendations were not about mass recruitment through lateral entry. This decision is against both the administrative system and the reservation policy of the country,” said Tiwari.

The issue has drawn widespread criticism from other opposition leaders as well. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav described the move as a “big conspiracy” against marginalized communities. Yadav alleged that the lateral entry mechanism is a strategy to block the upward mobility of Dalits, OBCs, and minorities, while positioning ideologically aligned individuals in key government roles.

“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 aspiring for higher positions in the present and future,” Yadav stated on X.

The controversy erupted after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently issued a notification inviting applications for the recruitment of Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry. The opposition has argued that this process dilutes the reservation system and disproportionately benefits upper-caste and ideologically aligned individuals, particularly those linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his concerns about the recruitment process, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is prioritizing appointments through the RSS instead of following the traditional UPSC path. He stated that the lateral entry system is being used to bypass reservations, thereby marginalizing SCs, STs, and OBCs in key government positions.

As the debate intensifies, opposition parties are calling for a unified stand against the practice, framing it as a broader threat to the constitutional guarantees of social justice.