Mohandas Pai, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Infosys, took to social media on August 19 to criticise Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), over his comments regarding the Modi government’s recent decision to appoint 45 specialists across various ministries.
In a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), Pai described Yechury’s opposition to the lateral entry of specialists into government positions as a “big joke.” He accused the CPI(M) of having infiltrated state governments across the country over the decades. “Big joke from a party which infiltrated govt across many states for decades. They think everybody else is like them,” Pai said.
Big joke from a party which infiltrated govt across many states for decades. They think everybody else is like them. https://t.co/2VDdy0a0wg
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) August 19, 2024
Yechury had earlier criticised the Modi administration’s decision to appoint officers to joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary positions through lateral entry, alleging that it was an attempt to insert RSS personnel into key government roles and further its agenda. He contended that this move undermines the constitutional mandate for reservations, arguing that had the recruitment been conducted through the traditional UPSC process, a significant portion of the appointees would have been from SC/ST/OBC communities. “If done through the normal practice of UPSC selection, at least 23 of 45 would be competent SC/ST/OBC candidates. Modi’s urgency to implement the Manu Smriti social order,” Yechury remarked.
Modi led ND alliance govt’s decision to induct 45 lateral entry officers of the rank of Jt. secys/ Directors/ Dy. Secys across 24 ministries is a clear attempt to infiltrate RSS personnel to further its agenda to subvert our Constitutional Scheme.
This negates the Constitutional…— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) August 18, 2024
Adding to the criticism, Leader of Opposition and Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi also questioned the move, framing it as an assault on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. Gandhi accused the BJP of pushing a “distorted version of Ram Rajya” aimed at dismantling constitutional provisions and stripping reservations from marginalised groups.
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 (@RahulGandhi) August 19, 2024
In response to these criticisms, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the upcoming lateral entry of 45 specialists into key central ministry positions. This recruitment drive will fill 10 joint secretary roles and 35 director/deputy secretary positions. The application process for these roles remains open until September 17, 2024. The Modi government asserts that this initiative is designed to infuse specialised expertise into the governance framework to enhance administrative efficiency across various sectors.
The positions include 10 joint secretaries in ministries such as Home, Finance, and Steel, as well as 35 director/deputy secretary roles in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Civil Aviation, and Information & Broadcasting, among others. This lateral entry approach marks a departure from the traditional appointments typically filled by IAS, IPS, and IFoS officers and those in Group A services.
I.N.D.I Alliance and the Caste Game
Since the 2024 elections, Rahul Gandhi and the I.N.D.I. Alliance (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) has been actively engaging in caste politics, leveraging social divisions to consolidate electoral support and challenge the ruling BJP government.
Rahul Gandhi has frequently criticised the BJP for allegedly undermining reservations and other affirmative action measures meant to benefit Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). For instance, he has accused the Modi government of attempting to dismantle constitutional safeguards and implement a “distorted version of Ram Rajya” that seeks to erode protections for these groups.
Leaders from the coalition have been vocal in their support for enhanced reservations and social welfare schemes targeted at marginalised communities. By addressing specific grievances and emphasising historical injustices, the alliance aims to solidify its base among these groups and challenge the BJP’s dominance.
