Religious conversion Bill gone, but key concerns remain
Minutes before the Goa Legislative Assembly convened on Monday for the 3-day monsoon session, the government hurriedly withdrew the controversial Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026. The sudden climbdown, following an emergency meeting between Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Catholic legislators from the ruling camp, has exposed serious fault lines within the BJP while leaving the minority communities with a bit
Of conversions, and other non issues
There is need for debate over how much freedom a citizen has to choose his or her religious beliefs, and, more importantly, what amounts to 'force'
Kudos to High Court for addressing stray dog crisis
Indeed, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court is playing a vital role in ensuring the effective implementation of laws and protecting public safety. The Court’s intervention in the growing stray dog crisis across Goa is a commendable and much-needed step. Kudos to the Goa High Court! I have...
Now guns, gangs and contract killers in Goa
Decades back, Goa was famous for its fish curry rice, fenny, frolic, sun, sand and surf. But in the last few years, we have multi-cuisines (national, international), expensive and spurious liquours, reduced fun (due to cost of living), blazing sun (thanks to ‘development,’ cutting of trees and hills), destroyed and...
Anti-conversion law must prevent forced conversion
The Goa Government’s proposal to introduce an anti-conversion law deserves a serious and balanced public debate. While the State has a legitimate interest in preventing conversion through force, fraud, coercion or unlawful inducement, the law must not restrict the constitutional freedom of conscience. Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees every...
OPINION & COLUMNS
Fixing the foundation
Permanent govt school upkeep depends heavily on sustained community pressure and official admin cooperation rather than audits alone
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Of conversions, and other non issues
There is need for debate over how much freedom a citizen has to choose his or her religious beliefs, and, more importantly, what amounts to 'force'
