8.2 lakh vacant posts show Modi govt's plan to end reservations through back door: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the Modi government of attempting to undermine reservations “through the back door”, citing media reports that more than 8.2 lakh sanctioned posts were lying vacant across central government civilian establishments.

Kharge alleged that the BJP's approach of leaving government posts vacant, reducing permanent employment and increasing contractual appointments was effectively depriving people of opportunities covered by reservation.

His remarks came after reports claimed that the number of vacant sanctioned posts in the central government had almost doubled over the past decade. Kharge shared on X a screenshot showing ministry-wise vacancies cited in the report.

“The Modi government has hatched a plan to end reservations through the back door! In 2015, there were 4.21 lakh vacant posts in the central government. By 2024, this number has risen to 8.24 lakh,” Kharge said in a post in Hindi.

Citing the same report, he claimed that the railways had 2.40 lakh vacant posts and the defence sector 2.41 lakh, while the Home Ministry had 1.10 lakh vacancies.

Kharge also claimed that 5.1 lakh permanent jobs in public sector undertakings had been eliminated and that the proportion of contractual workers had increased from 19 per cent to 49 per cent.

“The question is not just about employment, but about social justice,” he said.

Arguing that vacancies and the shift towards contractual employment could affect reservation opportunities, Kharge said, “Keep government posts vacant, and the opportunity for reservations ends. Sell off PSUs, and reserved jobs end. Convert permanent jobs to contracts, and reservations end.”

He said amending the Constitution was not necessary to weaken reservations if jobs carrying reservation benefits were reduced or eliminated.

Kharge alleged that the BJP was pursuing such a policy because it was opposed to social justice.

“Keep posts vacant. Sell off PSUs. Increase contracting. And snatch away the constitutional rights of SC, ST, OBC, EWS,” he said, claiming that the BJP's alleged attempt to undermine rights guaranteed by the Constitution had been “exposed”.

(With inputs from PTI)