Congress will allow qualified ex-Servicemen lateral entry into Civil Services: Rahul Gandhi

Congress' poll manifesto, titled 'Hum Nibhayenge', was released on Tuesday.

New Delhi: A day after releasing Congress' manifesto for the upcoming national election, party president Rahul Gandhi made a new poll promise for ex-servicemen. In a tweet, he announced that if voted to power, Congress would allow qualified ex-Servicemen lateral entry into the Civil Services. 

"Our ex-Servicemen are India’s pride and must be given the respect they deserve. We will allow qualified Ex-Servicemen lateral entry into the Civil Services. The Central Armed Police Forces will be opened up to ex-Servicemen under the age of 40," read Rahul's tweet.

Congress' poll manifesto, titled 'Hum Nibhayenge,' (We will deliver) was released by Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior leader P Chidambaram among others. 

Briefing the media about the manifesto, the party leaders asserted that the manifesto focusses on the issues of jobs, farmer distress, safety of women and boosting the rural economy. The Congress also promised to increase the spending on defence and expedite modernisation programmes of the Armed Forces. 

Earlier, the Modi government also notified positions of joint secretaries through lateral entry scheme. News agency PTI had reported that over 6,000 candidates had shown interest in 10 posts of joint secretaries in the central government offered to private sector specialists as part of the Modi government's bid to bring in fresh talent in bureaucracy.