Agitation on over OBC quota, 2 Knowldge Commission members resign

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) Two members of the Knowledge Commission today quit their posts in protest against the Government's move of providing reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher learning as striking doctors and medical students continued with their agitation all over the country.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andrea Beteille resigned in the face of the Government expressing its resolve not to roll back the quota decision, though assuring the protestors of devising a mechanism to satisfy those to be affected by the move.

Mr Beteille and Mr Mehta, along with four others members of the Knowledge Commission, opposed reservation proposals at a meeting of the Commission held in Bangalore recently.

Thereafter, at a press conference in the capital, Commission chairman Sam Pitroda had also expressed himself against the policy saying it was absolutely not necessary for the advancement of the OBCs.

''The Government has taken a very rigid stance on the issue. It is not coming out with any new proposals for us to consider...We are ready to come half way provided the other side also does the same,'' Dr Anirudh Lochan, a spokesman for 'Youth for Equality', which is spearheading the agitation, told UNI.

The students and doctors, who have already held two rounds of talks with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee headed Group of Ministers, turned down Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal to call off the stir.

Doctors were also served termination notice and eviction notice to vacate the AIIMS hostel.

''Notices will not work on us.... they will not deter us,'' Dr Lochan said.

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