Quotas for Muslims futile talk; affirmative action ok: Salman

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed on Thursday 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.