Anti-conversion laws against democracy: Singh

Shajapur, India - Terming the move to amend laws to prevent religious conversions in Madhya Pradesh as "a symbol of dictatorship", Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today said it was against democracy as every individual has the right to choose his religion.

"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is trying to become 'chhota' (Gujarat Chief Minister) Narendra Modi. The amendment is a symbol of dictatorship and against democracy," Singh told reporters at Akodia, near here.

Chouhan had yesterday announced that a Bill amending existing laws would be brought during the ongoing Assembly session to check conversions through force and allurement.

Religious conversion was a personal issue and every individual had the right to choose his religion, Singh said.

Calling the Bajrang Dal a "violent organisation", the former Chief Minister accused the state government of withdrawing criminal cases registered against its workers.