Quotas for Muslims futile talk; affirmative action ok: Khursheed

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed today said that there is no point getting into a futile argument on reservation for Muslims till a constitutional amendment enables it and instead favoured affirmative action for the betterment of the community.     

"One day it might be possible if you get consensus in the country and you get a constitutional instrument by which it (reservation) could be done," he told PTI.     

While arguing that he was not against reservation for minorities, he stressed the need for the "majority's acceptance, support and willing implementation in the empowerment of minorities". Till then why get into a futile argument, he wondered.     

But reservation is not the only way (for minority welfare), he said, adding, "affirmative action has many other ways".     

The minister said he would rather focus on existing tools to carry out minority welfare work.     

Highlighting the various measures taken by the UPA government in this regard, he said there should be concentration on reaping benefits of all this.

Evading a direct reply on the fate of the Rangnath Mishra Commission report that recommended specific measures to better the lot of minorities, and which has been pending with the last UPA government, Khursheed said, "Rangnath Commission report, first, will have to be decided by the Parliament and the government. That has not happened yet."     

"It is beyond my ministry. This is something that already before the entire Cabinet and it is with Prime Minister now," he added when asked if his ministry would take any initiative to push for immediate implementation of the Rangnath Mishra Commission report.     

The minister also chose not to give any specific opinion on the vexed issue of reservation for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.