The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and the Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) have strongly condemned the State Cabinet’s decision to approve the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, for introduction in the forthcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. They have rightly pointed out that there is no convincing evidence of widespread forced conversions being reported from any part of Goa and have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed anti-conversion bill. The Christian community is agitated because it is already seeing what is happening in other BJP-ruled states, where members of the community are allegedly being selectively persecuted, harassed and targeted through complaints under anti-conversion laws. In many cases, such laws are allegedly being misused in the name of stopping imaginary or forced religious conversions.
Religion is a personal matter. No political party or government has the right to tell people which religion they should follow or not follow, at least in a democratic and secular country like India. No political party or government owns any religion, nor does any political party seek votes only from people belonging to one particular religion during elections. I therefore feel that elected leaders who genuinely value Goa’s communal harmony should rise above party affiliations and religious considerations and oppose the proposed anti-conversion bill on the floor of the House. There is a genuine concern that such a law could further polarise Goans along religious lines and lead to the Christian community being unfairly branded as anti-national or outsiders. Its misuse could damage Goa’s traditionally peaceful and plural society. We must therefore unite and oppose any attempt by the State government to interfere in the personal religious beliefs and choices of citizens, particularly minorities. The proposed bill should not be allowed to become a tool for political polarisation or vote-bank politics. Let us protect Goa’s communal harmony and uphold the secular values of India.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
