New Delhi: Two members
of the National Knowledge Commission, Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andre Beteille,
resigned in protest over the Premier’s failure to defend the Commission
against criticism that it lacked competence to take a view on the OBC
quota issue.
Disappointed
by the PM’s silence over the quota controversy; Mehta and Beteille
quit the NKC on Monday. The members had opposed union HRD minister Arjun
Singh’s proposal to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs in central
universities and institutions.
The resignations
are a setback to the PM as the NKC is his project and its members were
virtually handpicked by him. It was set up less than a year ago with
the mandate to guiding reforms that will “transform India into a strong
and vibrant knowledge economy in coming years.”
Convener-member
Mehta has noted that he was disappointed that the PM had not shown “more
leadership initiative. The PM has to set the terms of debate. He can’t
wait for everyone else.” Criticism by NKC members of his leadership
ability will be particularly damaging for the PM.
In a letter
to the PM, Mehta said, “Many of the recent announcements made by your
government with respect to higher education leads me to the conclusion
that my continuation on the Commission will serve no useful purpose.“
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