MAPUSA
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday said the government was merely trying to “restore history” by repairing temples of mythological interest in the State and that there was no specific “agenda” as some people sought to believe, even as he blamed the media for trying to unnecessarily blow the issue out of proportion.
Godinho also said that there were no religious conversions taking place in Goa and the government will take a “considered” view on whether to introduce an anti-conversion bill in the Assembly.
“The government is trying to restore those temples and places which are of mythological interest to reshape them and to rebuild them if necessary. By doing so the Archeological Survey of India along with the State government is trying to restore history. What is wrong with that? There is nothing beyond that. There is no agenda. People are thinking something else,” Godinho said.
He debunked the notion that the BJP was making a conscious effort to use religion for political dividends.
“Not at all. I don’t think so. We are only committed to all-round development. Everybody’s development…Entire Goa…,” he said.
The Transport Minister said there was no point in raking up controversy on religious conversions as no such conversions took place in the State.
A week back, Sawant said there was a possibility of introducing a bill to prevent forceful religious conversions in the State.
Godinho is the second BJP leader who has said religious conversions do not happen in the State.
Earlier, BJP MLA from Mapusa and national general secretary of BJP Minority Morcha, Joshua D’Souza also said that he did not believe religious conversions were happening in Goa.
