Goa govt drops plan to table anti-conversion bill in assembly after pushback from minority MLAs

PANAJI: (Aug 31) In a U-turn following pushback from legislators from the minority community, the Goa government on Monday decided not to introduce its anti-religious conversion bill during the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant conveyed the decision after a meeting with BJP MLAs Michael Lobo and Delilah Lobo and Independent legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on the opening day of the three-day session.

Lourenco, who backs the BJP-led government, said Sawant assured the legislators that the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026 would not be tabled in the ongoing session.