<p>Kochi: Union Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kiren-rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</a> on Tuesday said that the amendments in the Waqf Act were not targeted at the Muslim community and instead were meant to correct "past mistakes".</p>.<p>The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, speaking at a press conference here, said that the intention of the government was to ensure that in India there is no provision for anybody to "forcefully and unilaterally" take away someone's land.</p>.<p>He said that the Waqf law was amended as certain provisions in it gave "unprecedented power and authority to the Waqf Boards".</p>.<p>"This is not targeted at Muslim community. it is to correct mistakes of the past," he said.</p>.Waqf law reflects PM Modi's sensitivity to plight of poor Muslims: U'khand Waqf Board chief.<p>Rijiju, who was flanked by Union Minister of State George Kurien and state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that following the amendment, "there will be no arbitrary declaration of a land as Waqf property".</p>.<p>His statement comes amid protests by various Muslim groups against the amendment, which have turned violent in some parts of West Bengal.</p>.<p>The Waqf Bill, passed by the Parliament, received the assent of the President on April 5.</p>.<p>The ruling NDA has strongly defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition has described it as "anti-Muslim". </p>
<p>Kochi: Union Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kiren-rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</a> on Tuesday said that the amendments in the Waqf Act were not targeted at the Muslim community and instead were meant to correct "past mistakes".</p>.<p>The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, speaking at a press conference here, said that the intention of the government was to ensure that in India there is no provision for anybody to "forcefully and unilaterally" take away someone's land.</p>.<p>He said that the Waqf law was amended as certain provisions in it gave "unprecedented power and authority to the Waqf Boards".</p>.<p>"This is not targeted at Muslim community. it is to correct mistakes of the past," he said.</p>.Waqf law reflects PM Modi's sensitivity to plight of poor Muslims: U'khand Waqf Board chief.<p>Rijiju, who was flanked by Union Minister of State George Kurien and state BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that following the amendment, "there will be no arbitrary declaration of a land as Waqf property".</p>.<p>His statement comes amid protests by various Muslim groups against the amendment, which have turned violent in some parts of West Bengal.</p>.<p>The Waqf Bill, passed by the Parliament, received the assent of the President on April 5.</p>.<p>The ruling NDA has strongly defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition has described it as "anti-Muslim". </p>