Ferreira slams anti-conversion bill as communal tactic, vows to oppose it in assembly

Ferreira slams anti-conversion bill as communal tactic, vows to oppose it in assembly

Panaji: Terming it as an attempt to whip up communal tension in the peaceful state of Goa, Congress Aldona MLA Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that the anti-conversion bill cleared by the state cabinet will be opposed by the party when it is tabled during the forthcoming assembly election.

Ferreira said that there is no justification for such a bill when the state has not recorded any cases of religious conversion.

“I am not surprised that this bill is being introduced, because if you look at the pattern of the government headed by Dr Pramod Sawant, he was categorical each time to try to claim that there were conversions going on in the state. When asked about the statistics of the conversion cases, three cases were cited, one of which was closed by the police and the other two were quashed by the High Court.”

Stating that there was absolutely no case of conversions, Ferreira said, “That means these cases were just bogies, false cases. In such a situation when we don’t have instances of any religious conversion in the state, what is the necessity of bringing such a law? The bill is part of the narrative of the BJP-led by Dr Pramod Sawant apparently to create communal tension in the state and perhaps incarcerate people to sow seeds of hatred amongst people in Goa,” he said.

“The question is why is the BJP trying to divide the people and try to create a line of communal hatred to foster a kind of allegation to put people behind bars and to probably persecute people and harass people. I don’t think we have instances of certain allegations where they go on in the rest of India about the alleged conversions. I have seen many cases quashed by the High Court in other states,” he said.

Goa is known to be a land of communal harmony and a peaceful state, he asserted.

“Goa is known as a state where we have lived without differences between persons of different religions, and it is for this peculiar and special reason that many people love to come to Goa and even settle here,” he said.

“Such a divisive legislation which is being brought on the eve of elections is a clear statement that BJP has felt that it is losing the plot and the elections, so now is indulging in such communal experiments. That is why they now whip up this communal tension in the state and try to garner votes,” said the Aldona MLA.

“We will floor this bill when it is tabled in the House. We will oppose this bill because it is not necessary in public interest nor in the interest of Goa. Goa has always been peaceful and Goa should remain peaceful. Elements like this want to finish Goa and we need to get rid of such a kind of people who want to finish Goa. Goa cannot be made a laboratory of hate or communal tension. We need to rid Goa of these characters who wish to finish off our Goa.”