Party's campaign for social justice forced govt to withdraw lateral entry recruitment: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress Party on Tuesday said that the power of Constitution and the campaign launched by its leaders for social justice, forced the 'dictatorial BJP government' to withdraw the lateral entry recruitment.

On social media handle X, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, "We will foil all conspiracies of the BJP like the lateral entry at any cost and protect the Constitution and the reservation".

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party that is fighting for social justice for Dalits, tribal and backward and weaker section has foiled the BJP's plan to snatch away reservation.

"Modi government's letter on lateral entry shows that only the power of the Constitution can defeat the arrogance of dictatorial power," Kharge said in a post on X.

He said that the government's U-turn was due to the campaign of Congress and INDIA bloc.

Urging the Opposition to remain alert, the Congress President said, "As long as BJP-RSS is in power, it will keep adopting new tactics to snatch away reservation and we all have to be very careful".

Reacting to the government's decision to withdraw lateral entry, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "Let this lateral entry incident serve as a harsh lesson for PM Modi and the BJP-RSS regime to never tamper with the Constitution".

"Under INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji and LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji’s leadership, we will be the staunchest guardians of our Constitution and reservations. No attempt to dilute representation and fundamental rights of SC, ST, OBCs will be allowed," Venugopal said.

The Lok Sabha MP from Alappuzha said, "We take this opportunity to applaud those NDA allies who took the bold stance of standing up to the injustice being plotted by their ally BJP".

It may be mentioned that the Union government asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the lateral entry advertisement issued on August 17 as per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The UPSC last Saturday advertised for 45 posts of 10 joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries, to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis.