NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday accused Congress of spreading “lies” over the issue of OBC representation and alleging that the party has historically opposed reservations for marginalised communities. “The Congress party has become bankrupt — its leaders, its policies, and its rhetoric,” Pradhan said, countering Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Modi government has neglected the OBCs.
Pradhan cited data from central universities to argue that the NDA government has strengthened inclusiveness in higher education by increasing sanctioned posts from 16,217 in 2014 to 18,951 in 2025 and reducing vacancies from 37% to 25.8%. Over 8,150 SC, ST, and OBC faculty members have been appointed in recent years, he said, adding that the Congress had failed to act on this front during its tenure.
Hitting at Congress leaders across generations, Pradhan said: “From Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress has opposed reservations. Rajiv Gandhi opposed the Mandal Commission on 11 points, and Nehru even wrote to chief ministers against reservation.”
The senior BJP leader also accused the Congress of misusing the “Not Found Suitable” clause to block reserved category appointments. “I challenge Rahul Gandhi to a debate inside or outside Parliament. Let him explain how many reserved posts were converted under ‘NFS’ during Congress rule and how many after 2019,” Pradhan said.
Referring to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019, Pradhan said that for the first time, a law ensured reservation for SC, ST, and OBCs in all faculty positions. “This is not tokenism. This is justice in action,” he said.
Calling Congress “anti-OBC and anti-social justice”, Pradhan said its criticism is rooted in discomfort over an OBC leading the country for the past 11 years.
Pradhan cited data from central universities to argue that the NDA government has strengthened inclusiveness in higher education by increasing sanctioned posts from 16,217 in 2014 to 18,951 in 2025 and reducing vacancies from 37% to 25.8%. Over 8,150 SC, ST, and OBC faculty members have been appointed in recent years, he said, adding that the Congress had failed to act on this front during its tenure.
Hitting at Congress leaders across generations, Pradhan said: “From Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress has opposed reservations. Rajiv Gandhi opposed the Mandal Commission on 11 points, and Nehru even wrote to chief ministers against reservation.”
The senior BJP leader also accused the Congress of misusing the “Not Found Suitable” clause to block reserved category appointments. “I challenge Rahul Gandhi to a debate inside or outside Parliament. Let him explain how many reserved posts were converted under ‘NFS’ during Congress rule and how many after 2019,” Pradhan said.
Referring to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019, Pradhan said that for the first time, a law ensured reservation for SC, ST, and OBCs in all faculty positions. “This is not tokenism. This is justice in action,” he said.
Calling Congress “anti-OBC and anti-social justice”, Pradhan said its criticism is rooted in discomfort over an OBC leading the country for the past 11 years.
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