Goa puts anti-conversion Bill on hold after pushback from MLAs

New Delhi: The Goa government has decided not to introduce its proposed anti-religious conversion legislation during the ongoing three-day monsoon session of the state Assembly, following opposition from several legislators, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), The Indian Express reported.

The state Cabinet had approved the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, last week and planned to table it during the session.

The proposed legislation sought stringent penalties for religious conversions allegedly carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage. Punishments included imprisonment of up to life, a minimum fine of Rs 50,000 and compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh for victims, The Wire reported.

The proposed law faced resistance during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Several BJP legislators and an independent MLA supporting the government reportedly argued that there was no need for such legislation.

BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who represents Calangute, said the government appeared to have moved too quickly in getting the Bill approved by the Cabinet. According to him, the legislation required further examination and consultation before being brought before the Assembly. He stressed that religious beliefs of all communities should be respected and said the issue needed wider discussion in the interest of Goa.

Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco also said there was a consensus against introducing the Bill during the current session, describing the proposal as inappropriate. He argued that there was no evidence of widespread religious conversions in Goa and questioned the need for a separate law when the state had traditionally maintained religious harmony.

Lourenco further pointed out that even in cases where offences had been registered, charge sheets had not been filed, and said there was insufficient evidence to establish that unlawful conversions were taking place. He also noted the role of minority organisations in supporting vulnerable sections of society.

Under the proposed legislation, anyone seeking to change their religion would have been required to submit a declaration to the district magistrate or additional district magistrate at least 60 days before the conversion, confirming that it was voluntary and free from coercion.

The Bill also proposed declaring a marriage void if authorities found that it had been conducted solely to facilitate an unlawful religious conversion. Individuals involved in such conversions, including religious functionaries such as priests, karmkandis, maulvis or mullas, could have faced imprisonment ranging from three to 10 years.

Opposition parties, civil society groups and the Catholic Church in Goa had earlier demanded that the proposed legislation be withdrawn, arguing that it could undermine constitutional protections for religious freedom and threaten communal harmony.