“Manmohan Singh an example of lateral entry, Congress started it…”: Meghwal hits back at Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the government’s move towards lateral entry and said Congress had taken similar decisions. He said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who joined as Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in 1971, joined the government through lateral entry and was later appointed as Finance Secretary.

“Rahul Gandhi is also the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. He holds a constitutional post but is not paying attention to these things. He alleges that RSS people are recruited through lateral entry. We want to say that Dr Manmohan Singh is also an example of lateral entry. In 1976, how did you appoint him Financial Secretary? Your Planning Commission’s vice-chairman was also on a lateral entry. You will find hundreds of such examples…you started lateral entry,” he said.

Meghwal accused Congress of trying to mislead the people from SC, ST and OBC communities on the issue of reservation.

He said that the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, which was formed in 2005 when Congress-led UPA government was in power, had suggested recruiting experts to fill the gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge.

Meghwal alleged that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was against the implementation of the Mandal Commission report. “Now suddenly they (Congress) have a love for OBC and they are misleading SC/ST OBC students,” Meghwal added.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government over the move for lateral entry of individuals on a few posts.

“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.” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

UPSC recently invited applications for 45 mid-level posts including joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries through lateral entry. Several opposition parties have opposed the decision.