PANAJI
Leader of Opposition, Michael Lobo, on Monday said there was no need for a special anti-conversion law in Goa, two days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said such a law may be moved by the government in the upcoming monsoon session in the aftermath of the release on bail of Siolim-based pastor Domnic D'Souza who was arrested on charges of 'coercive conversions'.
“In my view, there is no need for a special anti-conversion law in Goa as there is no largescale illegal religious conversion in the State,” Lobo said, adding that existing laws can curb forceful conversions.
The Congress leader also called for unity of Goans to ensure that conversions should never happen in Goa.
He said, no religious institutions in Goa are involved in any activity of conducting conversions, adding that only some people not from the State come and conduct 'prayer meetings' and such other religious activities.
“Let everyone practice their own religion, but there should be no illegal conversions,” he said, adding that it wrong to offer allurements for the purpose of religious conversion.
Two days ago, Sawant had indicated that the government could possibly move an anti-conversion legislation and pass it in the upcoming monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly slated to be held in July. The chief minister was reacting to the release on bail of the Siolim-based pastor who had been arrested on allegations of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.
