“Politics of Falsehood”: Dharmendra Pradhan Rebukes Rahul Gandhi’s Claims on OBC Representation in Central Universities
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly spreading misinformation about vacant teaching posts in central universities, accusing him of exploiting OBC issues for political gain ahead of the 2026 Lok Sabha elections.
NewsSutra
A heated political row has erupted between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Indian National Congress, following sharp accusations by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The controversy centres around the representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central universities, particularly the claim that a large number of faculty positions reserved for Bahujans (a term often encompassing OBCs, SCs, and STs) remain vacant.
Labeling Gandhi’s remarks as “politics of falsehood”, Pradhan strongly rebutted the Congress MP's assertions, stating that they were “misleading, factually incorrect, and intended to stoke caste-based sentiments” ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegation: What Sparked the Debate?
The controversy originated from Rahul Gandhi’s recent speech in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Citing government data, Gandhi alleged that more than 50% of reserved faculty posts for OBCs in central universities are vacant. He claimed this was a systematic denial of rights to marginalised communities, accusing the Modi government of “institutional bias” against backward castes.
He further asserted:
“There is a caste census available with the government. But this government doesn’t want to share it because it exposes the lack of true social justice.”
Gandhi called for greater transparency in recruitment, a national caste-based census, and direct interventions to fill the vacant teaching posts in a time-bound manner.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s Counterattack
Responding firmly, Dharmendra Pradhan, who also holds the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio, accused Rahul Gandhi of deliberately twisting facts to suit a divisive agenda.
At a press conference held in New Delhi, Pradhan said:
“Rahul Gandhi has once again shown his ignorance about the Constitution and the functioning of academic institutions. His claim that 50% of reserved posts for OBCs are vacant is baseless. The numbers are being cherry-picked without understanding recruitment cycles, reservation rosters, and judicial constraints.”
Pradhan cited data from the University Grants Commission (UGC), stating that:
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Over 72% of sanctioned faculty posts in central universities are currently filled.
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Among those filled, OBC representation stands at 27.5%, nearing the mandated reservation quota.
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Recruitment drives have been expedited post-COVID, and hundreds of positions have been filled over the last 18 months.
He further accused Gandhi of demeaning institutions like IITs, IIMs, and central universities, which he said have worked tirelessly to implement reservation norms despite infrastructural and procedural delays.
The Numbers: What Do Government Data and RTI Responses Show?
Several Right to Information (RTI) applications and Parliamentary replies have highlighted significant gaps in reserved category recruitments over the years. For instance:
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In a 2023 reply in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Education acknowledged that over 6,000 teaching posts across central universities were lying vacant as of December 2022.
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Of these, OBC posts accounted for 1,785, SC for 1,097, and ST for 516, indicating under-representation of Bahujan communities.
However, Pradhan contends that this is a legacy issue, dating back to pre-2014 recruitment freezes and the lack of a uniform reservation roster system under the Congress-led UPA government.
He credited the Modi government for implementing the “200-point roster system” and making direct recruitment mandatory through centralised portals like NTA and CU-Chayan, reducing discretionary powers and delays.
Political Messaging vs Ground Realities
Analysts suggest that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were aimed at rebuilding Congress’ appeal among OBC communities, a strategy similar to the “Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq” (Equal Representation for Population Share) campaign led by the party in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
However, BJP leaders argue that Gandhi’s focus on caste quotas lacks nuance and ignores broader educational reforms such as:
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The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which integrates inclusive learning and regional language promotion
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Expansion of EWS quota, bringing economically weaker sections from all communities, including forward castes, into the fold
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Infrastructure boost to tier-2 and tier-3 universities in backward districts through the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
According to a report by NITI Aayog, the gross enrolment ratio (GER) of OBC students in higher education has steadily increased over the last five years—from 25.5% in 2017 to 30.2% in 2023.
BJP’s Social Engineering Strategy
The war of words is not just about data but about electoral positioning. With the 2026 general elections on the horizon, both parties are engaging in deep caste arithmetic.
The BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made a clear outreach to non-dominant OBC groups, particularly in North and Central India. Union Ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan (OBC), Anurag Thakur, and Bhupender Yadav have emerged as key figures in policy and electoral narratives.
The BJP’s counter-narrative to Rahul Gandhi's allegations stresses development over division, arguing that affirmative action must be accompanied by skill-building, digital education, and institutional accountability—not mere quota politics.
Academic Voices Call for Depoliticisation
Several educationists have expressed concern over the politicisation of higher education, particularly in how data is used to drive ideological arguments.
Professor Yogendra Yadav, an academic-turned-activist, noted:
“While the numbers cited by both sides require scrutiny, the larger issue is that recruitment delays hurt the academic calendar, student outcomes, and diversity on campuses. What’s needed is systemic reform, not political blame games.”
Scholars from institutions like JNU and TISS have called for a national database of reservation compliance in public institutions, subject to real-time audits by independent bodies.
What Lies Ahead?
The battle between Pradhan and Gandhi underscores a larger ideological clash between meritocracy and affirmative justice, as both camps seek to position themselves as champions of marginalised voices—albeit through different lenses.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to raise the issue again during his upcoming Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra outreach in eastern India, while BJP ministers are likely to release additional documentation and audit reports showing incremental OBC inclusion.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has summoned top Education Ministry officials next month to present a compliance status report on reserved category recruitment.
Conclusion
The OBC representation debate triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and Dharmendra Pradhan’s rebuttal reflects the complex interplay between data, politics, and social justice. While both sides claim to advocate for the underrepresented, the methods, interpretations, and motivations differ starkly.
In a democracy as large and layered as India’s, ensuring equity in education is a long-term institutional mission—one that demands transparency, collaboration, and consistency, not just soundbites and accusations.
As the public awaits clearer data and real outcomes, one question lingers: will the education system become a victim of political expediency, or will it emerge stronger through scrutiny and reform?
