External affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday said the Congress was not opposed to the idea of reservation for backward Muslims, but those jittery about letting the party get the credit for implementing it were creating hurdles.
“They do not want anyone else to get the credit,” he said, without specifying who these insiders were.
"They have failed to understand that it is not about who gets the credit.”
Addressing a conference titled ‘Unpacking the 12th Plan' as chief guest in Lucknow, Khurshid said, “Given the levels of backwardness, Muslims deserve help more than any other community.”
He said it was time for Muslims to decide whether to pursue overall development on their own or seek the support of secular well-wishers among the majority community and other minorities.
Union HRD minister MM Pallam Raju, the guest of honour at the conference organised by non-government organisation Strive for Eminence and Empowerment, said efforts were on to reverse the rise in school dropout rates among Muslims.
Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed said, “For the first time ever, the commission, led by PM Manmohan Singh, has acknowledged the perception of alienation among Muslims, which needs to be addressed.”