6 days ago
Goa Anti-Conversion Bill Draws Opposition Over Communal Disharmony
Goa’s government has approved a proposed law about religious conversions.
The law would punish conversions involving force, pressure, gifts, cheating or marriage.
It could allow life imprisonment for people found guilty.
It also proposes fines and money for victims.
The bill is expected to be presented to the state assembly after its session begins on August 31.
Congress says the law is unnecessary because Goa has not recorded confirmed conversion cases.
An independent MLA who supports the government also asked the chief minister to reconsider it.
Both critics warned that the bill could increase tension between religious communities.
Goa’s cabinet approved the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversions of Religion Bill, 2026.
The bill would cover conversions allegedly involving force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraud or marriage.
Proposed penalties include life imprisonment, fines of at least Rs 50,000 and compensation up to Rs 5 lakh.
The bill is scheduled to be introduced during the Goa Assembly’s monsoon session beginning August 31.
Congress and government-supporting independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said the legislation could fuel communal disharmony.
- Who
- The Goa cabinet, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s government, Congress leader Carlos Alvares Ferreira and independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
- What
- The cabinet approved a bill proposing stringent penalties for unlawful religious conversions, including possible life imprisonment.
- Where
- Goa, with the bill expected to be tabled in the state assembly.
- When
- The cabinet approved it on Wednesday; criticism was reported on Thursday, ahead of the Assembly session beginning August 31, 2026.
- Why
- The proposed legislation is intended to address conversions allegedly carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage; critics say it is unnecessary and could create communal tension.
Critics of the bill
Bill’s stated approach
Need for legislation
Critics of the bill
Congress and MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said there was no need for the bill because, according to them, Goa had no established cases of religious conversion.
Bill’s stated approach
The bill proposes legal penalties for conversions allegedly obtained through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage.
Effect on communal relations
Critics of the bill
Congress president Carlos Alvares Ferreira called the measure an attempt to whip up communal tension, while Lourenco said it could create communal disharmony.
Bill’s stated approach
The cabinet approved the proposed legislation and scheduled it for consideration by the state assembly; the report does not include a government response to the criticism.
Reported cases
Critics of the bill
Ferreira said three cases previously cited by the government did not justify the bill because one was closed by police and two were quashed by the high court.
Bill’s stated approach
The proposed law would establish punishments for alleged unlawful conversions, regardless of the critics’ assessment of prior cases.
Key facts
- Bill
- Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversions of Religion Bill, 2026
- Proposed maximum punishment
- Life imprisonment
- Proposed minimum fine
- Rs 50,000
- Proposed victim compensation
- Up to Rs 5 lakh
- Assembly timing
- Monsoon session begins August 31
- Congress position
- Congress said it would oppose the bill in the assembly.
- Reported conversion cases
- Congress said three cases had been cited by the government; one was closed by police and two were quashed by the high court.
Quotes
Carlos Alvares Ferreira
Goa Congress president
“That means these were just bogies, false cases. In such a situation, when we don’t have instances of any religious conversion in the state, what is the necessity of bringing such a law?”
theprint.in
“is an attempt to whip up communal tension in the peaceful state”
theprint.in
Sources
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