Wrong timing: SC panel chief

The UPA government has come in for strong criticism from an unlikely quarter for its proposal to increase reservations for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes 8212; chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Suraj Bhan.

Bhan said with the public anger against the proposed reservations for OBCs flaring up, it 8216;8216;was a right decision taken at a wrong time8217;8217;. 8216;8216;There is sympathy for the SC and ST communities among the general public but with such ill-timed move I am afraid that instead of support for them, there will be demand for abolition of reservations and situation would get out of control,8217;8217; he said.

He also said that 8220;increasing the number of reservations or SCs and STs in accordance with the increase in their population was a constitutional obligation of the government under Article 335 of the Constitution.8217;8217;