NO FORCED CONVERSIONS : GOA CM WANTS A LAW
By Anshika Khera
In the calling attention motion on the first day of Goa ‘s legislative assembly ‘s Monsoon session , CM of Goa , Pramod Sawant ,says that an anti conversion law needs to be enforced to stop forced conversions . He stated that Uttar Pradesh and other states have passed such laws and forced conversions are not allowed according to these laws and so he wants such law. He said that he had noticed cases of Love Jihad in the state and will give details later if asked to.
BJP MLA Premendra Shet and AAP MLA Cruz Silva moved a calling attention motion , after pointing to the arrest of SB Krishna , alias Ayesha from Goa by Uttar Pradesh police as members of illegal conversion racket , stating that these have connection with the international operators and are also funded by them creating an international network in Goa. They questioned the government on the steps taken by it to end this network.
Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday claimed to catch a network indulged in illegal conversion, with arrest of ten people from six different states in connection with abduction of two sisters of Agra in March this year. Police said that the accused would lure young women , specially minor , across different states , through illegal means for religious conversions and said they recieved funds from Canada and other countries to run their operations.
Sawant says that some recent cases are noticed which seem targeted . He said they may be adults or may be in love , but if targeted cases are noticed , then attention has to be paid.
Goa Forward Party’s MLA Vijai Sardesai said that this law is not relevant to Goa’s ground reality but to the national discourse. He demanded the data and the report. Goa’s independent MLA Aleixo Lourenco said that there are no conversions in Goa , especially from the Catholic side.
Sawant responded by saying that Goa’s harmony should never be disturbed and this law would be against f conversions which are foced by giving money.
AAP MLA demanded a thorough investigation, urging the law enforcement agencies to find out the number of such people , stating the stay of the accused during the grand Exposition of Saint Francis Xavier attended by lakhs of people and tourists. He also said that accused was linked to ISIS.