level-playing field and not reservation is the obvious solution to end all problems, facing not just by the minorities but even the majorities, said Najma Heptullah — the only Muslim face in the Narendra Modi Cabinet. She took charge as the Minority Affairs Minister on Tuesday.
Grandniece of eminent freedom fighter Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Heptuallah, said that she did not believe in the policy of reservation as it takes away the competitive spirit from an individual. “I came till here without any reservation or support and I have done well. That is because I got a level playing field,” said Heptullah.
“One needs to be given support only till a certain level, after which they need to walk on their own. And Muslims are anyway a majority in minority communities. They need right guidance and they will do well on their own,” she said.
Heptuallah criticised the entire policy of reservation saying that it can neither be an alternative or a definitive solution to end the backwardness of the minority populations. “It is not that I don’t support reservation, the Constitution does not support it,” she said.
Heptuallah said that a special focus needed to be paid to address the problems of the Parsi community. “It is the Parsis and not the Muslims who are the real minority community. We need to ensure that the community does not diminish.”
“Even if some kind of a study need to be undertaken to understand the reason for their shrinking population, the government should support it,” said Heptuallah.
Heptuallah said that the focus of her ministry will be on inclusive development, education and financial growth of the minority communities.
“Through good education and right opportunities we will integrate the minorities with the majorities and give them a level field to compete. We will focus our energies on building infrastructure to promote development,” she said.
Heptuallah who is to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for late Tuesday evening said that a “more definite road map for the ministries goals can be chalked out only after a discussion with the leadership — the PM.”