Chirag Paswan Opposes Lateral Entry in Government Jobs, Stresses on Reservation

BJP ally and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has strongly criticized any initiative for government appointments that is against the principles of reservation. He said that there is no ifs and buts in this. He stressed that such provisions are necessary for government jobs. He said that he would raise this issue before the central government.

Chirag Paswan's statement has come at a time when opposition parties are attacking the Centre over lateral entry in UPSC. The opposition alleges that through such a provision, an attempt is being made to snatch the reservation of backward castes.

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 in government posts as well... This information came to me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me."

Chirag Paswan said that as a member of the government, he has a 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.

The 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. The commission's move is being strongly opposed.

Opposition parties, including the 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 key posts.

In response to the criticism, the BJP defended the lateral entry initiative, saying that it aims to increase transparency in the recruitment processes initiated under the previous Congress-led UPA government.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav termed the Congress' opposition as hypocritical and pointed out 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 transparently to improve the quality of governance.