Politics

Vaishnaw Highlights PM Modi’s Commitment to Social Justice Amid UPSC Lateral Entry Ad Rollback

He said Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reiterated the commitment of PM Narendra Modi towards upholding the Constitution drafted by BR Ambedkar by ensuring principles of reservation find a place in the Union Public Service Commission lateral entry scheme.

He said that Modi had been consistent about the cause of social justice and added that it was during his leadership that the NCBC got constitutional status. Vaishnaw also said that the government applied principles of reservation in every sphere, be it admissions to NEET or Sainik Schools and other institutions.

“Prime Minister Modi has taken care that Babasaheb Ambedkar’s five sacred places get due recognition. We are equally proud that the President of India comes from a tribal community,” Vaishnaw said.

Regarding the “principles of saturation” enunciated by Modi, he said, it simply means that every welfare program must be extended up to the most marginalized sections of society, so SC, ST, and OBC communities get benefited logically to the maximum.

On the contrary, Vaishnaw criticized the approach of the Congress government before 2014, saying there was no attention to principle in reservation matters. This was more so in lateral entry appointments where important positions like finance secretaries were appointed without any consideration to reservation.

He disclosed that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia both made their way into service through the lateral entry route without reservation.

According to Vaishnaw, PM Modi is looking upon lateral entry through UPSC as a means of bringing transparency. It is explicitly reiterated with reservation principles being attached to prove that the government has woken up to the need for social justice.

Following recent controversy, the Centre has asked the UPSC to withdraw its latest advertisement for lateral entry appointments in the bureaucracy. Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh wrote a letter to UPSC Chairperson, Preeti Sudan, asking for withdrawal of the advertisement to ensure more representations from backward sections of society in government services.

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The August 17 notification issued by the UPSC for recruiting 45 joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries through lateral entry has been in the line of fire of opponents. This move was alleged to be an infringement on the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs by opposition parties.