The BJP-led NDA government's move to introduce experts/specialists into the bureaucracy has run into opposition from one of its coalition partners, the LJP.
While addressing the media here on Monday, LJP leader Chirag Paswan termed the UPSC's lateral entry scheme "completely wrong" because it would not follow the quota's reservation system, which he said deprived backward classes of an opportunity to be recruited for top positions. Paswan expressed his concern over the induction of specialists in several government departments and ministries, stating that his party intends to raise this issue with the Central government.
"My party feels that every form of recruitment at the government level should follow the reservation system. Reservations are not there in the private sector, so they should be taken care of within the government sectors," Paswan said.
"In this lateral entry scheme, the quota system has been ignored, which is of grave concern to all of us. Even though I am a minister in the government, my party does not subscribe to this move," Paswan added.
He further said, "We will bring this matter to the notice of government at the appropriate platform."
LJP's objection to the lateral entry scheme comes within days of the Opposition accusing the BJP of conspiring to deny backward classes their rightful representation in government departments.
The Congress Party, in association with other members of the INDIA bloc, has also attacked the scheme, calling it an "assault on the concept of social justice" and a strategy to "place RSS-affiliated individuals in top positions."
Rahul Gandhi termed it a "privatisation of IAS" scheme.
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