8/4/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — The chief minister of Goa called for an anti-conversion law to address what he described as an issue of forced conversions in the state. Such laws have been criticized for their impact on Christians and other religious minorities.

Pramod Sawant told the state assembly it was time for an anti-conversion law. He suggested that Goa follow states like Uttar Pradesh to counter alleged instances of forced conversions.

Sawant made this proposal during the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly. It sparked debate among lawmakers. Opposition members questioned the relevance and factual basis of such legislation in Goa.

Members of the opposition stated that the chief minister should not advance his party’s national agenda in Goa.

Sawant is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP currently governs 12 of India’s 28 states.

“Forced conversions are not allowed under the anti-conversion law in Uttar Pradesh,” Sawant said. “Many states have passed such laws. I believe we too need to bring such a law so that forced conversions will be disallowed.”

Goa was once a Portuguese colony administered by Lisbon for 450 years, until 1961, and is now a popular tourist destination.

Roman Catholics comprise roughly 25% of the coastal state’s 1.4 million people, who claim a history of religious and communal harmony.

An editorial in a popular newspaper, The Goan, suggested that the proposed anti-conversion law, if enacted without deliberation and forethought, could be used for political or communal purposes rather than solely acting as a safeguard against coercion.

“We are not a state where Hindus, Catholics, and Muslims are at war with each other, and hence any legislation that appears to target specific communities risks fracturing the social fabric,” the editorial stated. “The government’s priority should be safeguarding our inclusive ethos, ensuring that laws enacted serve justice and harmony rather than division and fear.”

Vijay Sardesai, an opposition legislator from the Goa Forward Party, challenged Sawant to prove his claims. Sardesai said such comments threaten Goa’s identity, secular ethos, and the spirit of the Portuguese Civil Code.

This civil code, enacted in 1867 during the Portuguese colonial era, is notable for offering women a more equitable position compared to some other personal laws in India.

Aleixo Lourenço, an independent legislator, also challenged the chief minister to back his claims on alleged conversions with official data.

Anti-conversion laws are prevalent in 12 Indian states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. These regulations forbid religious conversions through force, manipulation, deception, or inducement. Offenders face severe fines and even incarceration.

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