Rahul Gandhi Accuses BJP, RSS of Plotting to End Reservations in Higher Education, Minister Pradhan Hits Back

Rahul Gandhi alleged a conspiracy to abolish reservations, citing the high number of vacant positions (3,000 out of approximately 7,000 reserved posts in 45 central universities) with the minimal representation of Dalit, tribal, and backward class professors

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns about the UGC Draft, accusing the BJP and RSS of attempting to eliminate reservations for SC, ST, and OBC categories in higher education institutions.

Rahul Gandhi has alleged a conspiracy to abolish reservations, citing the high number of vacant positions (3,000 out of approximately 7,000 reserved posts in 45 central universities) with the minimal representation of Dalit, tribal, and backward class professors. He claimed that the BJP-RSS, previously discussing reservation reviews, now aims to deprive marginalized communities of jobs in higher education.

In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi writes, “In the new draft of UGC, there is a conspiracy to end the reservation given to SC, ST and OBC categories in higher education institutions. Today, out of approximately 7,000 reserved posts in 45 central universities, 3,000 are vacant, and of which only 7.1% are Dalit, 1.6% tribal and 4.5% backward class professors. BJP-RSS, which have even talked about reviewing reservation, now want to snatch the jobs of the deprived class from such higher education institutions.”

He went on to add that this is an attempt to kill the dreams of the heroes fighting for social justice and to eliminate the participation of the deprived sections.

“This is the difference between 'symbolic politics' and 'real justice' and this is the character of BJP. Congress will never allow this to happen - we will continue to fight for social justice and will fill these vacant posts only with qualified candidates from reserved categories,” Gandhi writes.

Education Minister Replies

Reacting to his statement, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan replied on X and stated that Rahul Gandhi's politics is completely based on lies. Pradhan writes: “As soon as the truth of one lie is exposed, they rise up with another lie. The list of false statements made by him is endless. Now Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are telling a new lie regarding appointment to reserved posts in higher education. But this lie of his has also been exposed on the test of facts.”

The Education Minister stated that it is clear from the data that the maximum number of appointments have been made in the Modi government in proportion to the regular reservation on reserved posts in central universities. In the total appointments made on 6080 posts, the participation of Scheduled Caste (SC) is 14.3%, Scheduled Tribe (ST) is 7% and OBC is 23.42%. Apart from this, the appointment process for the remaining posts under these rules is in progress.

He further added that therefore, the false propaganda being spread by Rahul Gandhi that in these appointments, SCs are only 7.1%, STs are 1.6% and OBCs are 4.5%, is a complete lie. Congress has an old habit of dividing society and creating instability by spreading lies. The basic character of Congress is anti-SC-ST-OBC. While in power, Congress has always openly opposed the interests of the deprived society.

“Now when the Modi government is ensuring the participation of the deprived society, the anti-SC-ST-OBC face of the Congress and its leaders has once again come to the fore. There is an open challenge to Rahul Gandhi to provide concrete evidence of the false figures given by him or to publicly apologize for his lies,” writes Pradhan replying to Rahul Gandhi.

Commenting on Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party he wrote: “Now the truth is out. Clear as glass. Therefore, Congress's intention of sowing lies, cultivating lies and spreading lies is not going to succeed.”

UGC, Education issue clarification

Following the controversial de-reservation draft of the UGC, the Education Ministry and University Grants Commission issued a statement. Education Ministry stated: “Reservation in Central Educational Institutions (CEI) is provided for all posts in direct recruitment in Teacher’s cadre as per the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019. After enactment of this Act, no reserved post is to be de-reserved. Ministry of Education has given directives to all the CEIs to fill up the vacancies strictly as per the 2019 ACT.”