Najma Heptulla, Union Minister
for Minority Affairs has said that the reservation in jobs and educational
institutions will not the better the condition of the minorities in the
country. She was in Mumbai toady to oversee the functioning and activities of the
National Minority Development and Financial Corporation (NMDFC) and the Maulana
Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS); both the organizations are being
expanded all across the country.
She told the media, "There
cannot be overall development of Muslims even if they are given a reservation.
What is needed is higher and good-quality education for our children so that
they can stand on their feet."
It should be noted that the
BJP-Shiv Sena led government in Maharashtra has passed a bill that gives
reservation to the Marathas but excludes the Muslims. It is somewhat averse to
the ordinance that was issued by the previous Congress-NCP government that gave
reservation to both the communities.
"How long Muslims will walk
with the help of crutches of reservation? Once children are provided with good
education, they will be able to stand up on their feet and will get jobs in
multinational companies," she further said. "I have not come up to
this level because I am a Muslim or a woman, but because my parents gave me
access to education."
On being asked whether she would
be averse to the reservation given to the Marathas, she refused to comment.
Instead she said, "I just want to say that people should be made capable
of achieving their dreams on their own instead of looking for jobs based on
reservation. The previous Congress-NCP government decided to give reservation
to Muslims and Marathas as a last-ditch attempt to save themselves after the drubbing
in Lok Sabha elections."
Her views on the reservation seem
to have drawn the ire of the minority leaders that are adamant on having their
'share'.
Second cousin of actor Amir Khan,
Najma Heptulla, 74, is the grand-niece of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. She joined
the BJP in 2004 after being a lifelong member of the Congress party. In August
2014 her controversial statement that "there is nothing wrong in calling
all the Indians Hindus," brought severe criticism from various
quarters.
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