Plans to introduce harsh anti-conversion law in Goa shelved – for now

Goa will not be the 14th state in India to introduce an anti-conversion law, despite a proposed plan. Praise God for this hugely positive development and please pray against future attempts to revive the Bill.

In really good news from India, plans to introduce an anti-conversion law in the state of Goa have been shelved. However, there are concerns that it could still be implemented in the future.

In August, the state Cabinet approved the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill. But it was met with resistance by several legislators, including those from the Hindu Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), stating it as controversial. It was later taken off the Assembly’s Business List and not presented during the monsoon session, which offers an opportunity for more dialogue and reflection.

If pushed through, Goa would have been the 14^th state to introduce an anti-conversion law, with a version that was possibly among the harshest in the country. Proposed punishments included imprisonment up to life, a minimum fine of INR 50,000 (£395) and compensation of up to INR 500,000 (£4,000) for victims.

The Bill also proposed that people intending to change their religion would have to submit a declaration at least 60 days in advance to the district magistrate, or an additional district magistrate, stating that the conversion is being undertaken voluntarily and without any coercion.

A needless law and a grave threat

A major issue is whether such legislation is really needed in Goa, with evidence showing no widespread or systematic practice of forced religious conversion in the state. Some reported cases were subsequently closed or quashed after investigations found insufficient evidence.

The Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who opposed the Bill believe it was an attempt to whip up tension in the coastal state ahead of elections next year.

“Goa is a peaceful state, and people here have lived and continue to live in harmony. So, why disturb this harmony? I support the government, but this Bill doesn’t have my support,” Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who backs the BJP-led government, told The Indian Express.

The Council for Social Justice and Peace and the Catholic Association of Goa have called for the proposed Bill to be withdrawn, describing it as a grave threat to constitutional freedom and communal harmony.

The church bodies said that no convincing evidence of widespread forced conversion in Goa had been presented to the public. “Goa must not import divisive legislation merely because similar laws have been enacted in BJP-governed states,” they stated.

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Could the Bill be revived?

“The fact is that religious faith is a very personal matter,” Open Doors local partner Anita Patil* says. “If a true conversion is to take place, it must be voluntary and there must be no use of force, fraud or coercion. Since several existing laws already include provisions for dealing with criminal acts such as fraud, intimidation and coercion, introducing a new law with wide and possibly severe clauses could result in fear, suspicion and harassment of minority religious groups, pastors, leaders and ordinary citizens.

“It is therefore a positive and welcome step that the Bill is not being introduced at this stage. We appreciate the legislators, the church leaders, the civil society organisations and the citizens who have promoted dialogue, constitutional scrutiny, and peaceful engagement.”

However, there are concerns that attempts to push through the Bill will be revived. According to The Quint News, Christian activist John Dayal writes, “The Goa anti-conversion bill is parked and not scrapped,” adding that the churches believe it could return if the party comes back to power.

Open Doors local partners agree with several voices in Goa who expressed that the Bill ought not just to be postponed, but permanently withdrawn, ensuring the state remains a place where people of different religions can live together with dignity, mutual respect and freedom.

*Name changed for security reasons