In an embarassment to the government embroiled in the row over reservations, two leading members of the National National Knowledge Commission resigned on Monday, protesting quotas in central educational institutions.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Andre Beteille said they had quit the Commission, which was set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images]. Its views on reservation had recently come under attack from Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh [Images].

"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," Mehta said, in a resignation letter addressed to the prime minister.

When contacted by PTI, Beteille, a professor emeritus of sociology, said, "I have submitted by resignation this morning."

Mehta and Beteille were among the six members who opposed reservation proposals at a meeting of the commission in Bangalore recently.

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