NT Reporter Panaji
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said there was a need to bring an anti-conversion law against forceful religious conversions.
Sawant’s statement comes in the wake of Uttar Pradesh police recently busting a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket and arresting 10 individuals, including one from Goa.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Chief Minister said, “Many states have passed an anti-conversion law banning forceful conversions. I feel there is a need to bring an anti-conversion law. As Congress, you (Opposition MLAs) should support it.”
He further said, “Some time ago, targeted love jihad was going on. There is a need to identify people who are involved in this. Police know about such activities, but panchayats and panch members should cooperate.”
Sawant was responding to a calling attention moved by Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Venzy Viegas, who raised concern over the large-scale network, which came to light with the arrest of a woman, who reportedly resided in Old Goa and was a part of a transnational network operating in India.
The MLAs sought to know the steps taken by the government to detect and neutralise the network.
Sawant said that while the parents of the arrested woman stayed in Goa, the woman visited the state only during holidays. “She undertook her entire education outside the state. Investigation into the case is in progress and I don’t want to disclose any details, as secrecy needs to be maintained,” Sawant said.
Stating that 66,000 tenants have been verified in the state as on date, Sawant said the government has now introduced online tenant verification. He warned that if any tenant is found to be involved in criminal activities, the owner will also be arrested for sheltering the tenant.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said Goa is emerging as an unsuspected base for operations linked to extremist networks. “It is deeply troubling that no law enforcement agency could track her movements, financial activities and her ideological affiliations. This is a complete failure,” he said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said Goa is becoming a hub for international racketeering, illegal conversions, hawala operations and extremist networks with links to foreign funding.
“How did someone like this set up a base in Goa undetected? Is Goa now a haven for transnational criminal rackets?” Sardesai questioned. He said such unchecked activities threaten Goa’s unique identity, secular ethos and the spirit behind the Uniform Civil Code.
