Madhya Pradesh anti-conversion bill a ploy to trap Christians: Iyengar

Bhopal, India - Terming the Bill to amend Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act as a "ploy to trap Christians through false cases", a minority communtiy leader today claimed to have asked Governor Balram Jakhar to return it to the state assembly.

"The Bill to amend Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was a ploy by ruling BJP to foist false cases of coversion by force or allurement against innoncent Christians", Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh Christian Forum President Indira Iyengar told reporters here.

"We have asked the Governor to return it to state Assembly as it was passed without discussion," she claimed accusing Congress of failing to discharge its duties as the main Opposition party.

"Congress members created a pandemonium in the House over non-issues and failed to initiate discussions on the amendment bill," she alleged.

Iyengar, whose term as state Minority Commission member ended today, also alleged that the Commission was not able to protect the rights of minority community and has "lost its usefulness." According to the amendment in the Religious Freedom Act, those wishing to adopt any other religion and those performing the ritual will have to inform the District Magistrate about it ahead of the ceremony.