The Modi Government is committed to the welfare and development of the Muslim community and it will fulfil all the election promises made in this regard, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla said on Monday.
Najma, who was on a two-day visit to the city, went around the Telangana State BJP office in Hyderabad. She was felicitated by the State BJP leadership including party president G Kishan Reddy.
Addressing a Press conference on the occasion, Najma asserted the Government was laying emphasis on the protection of the Waqf properties as part of its efforts to uplift the Muslim community. “The Government will not tolerate any attempt to encroach upon the Waqf properties and steps were being taken to protect the assets,” she added.
Replying to a question the Union Minister said there was no proposal to give 12 per cent reservations to the Muslim community in jobs and education. “If any such proposals come the Government will consider it,” she disclosed.
She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of “Skilled India” should become a reality as it would also help in uplifting the Muslim community.
Earlier, Najma Heptulla addressed a conference “Taleem ki Taqat” (How education can empower and energise communities) at the Moulana Azad National Urdu University in Hyderabad.
She lashed out at the Congress party for neglecting the immense contribution of Moulana Azad to the country. “It was because of his vision and foresight that India today has 600 universities and 35,000 colleges,” she said.
Najma, who is the granddaughter of Moulana Azad, the first Education Minister of Independent India said that it was not sufficient to just name some institutions after him. “The country should follow his vision,” she said.
Najma recalled that she was ridiculed in Congress party for bringing up Moulana Azad’s name frequently.
Praising Prime Minister Modi she said he had asked her to implement a suitable scheme to uplift the Muslims who were pushed to extreme backwardness over a period of time.
This was the third edition of this conference on education. The first two were held in Mumbai and Patna. Apart from Najma the conference was also addressed by TRS MP K Kavitha and Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor of Moulana Azad Urdu University.