Goa assembly to open three-day monsoon session Monday; anti-conversion bill on agenda

The Goa assembly's three-day monsoon session opens Monday, Aug 31 with debate expected on a proposed anti-conversion bill that has drawn fire from the Opposition.

The House will take up 883 questions submitted by members across party lines during the session, Joint Secretary (Legislature Department) Mohan Gaonkar told PTI on Sunday.

The Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, will be tabled during the session. The BJP-led state cabinet approved the bill on Wednesday, proposing life imprisonment among other stringent penalties.

The bill sets out punishment for religious conversion carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage. Offenders could face life imprisonment, fines of at least Rs 50,000, and compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to victims.

The Congress has alleged the bill is designed to inflame communal tension in an otherwise peaceful state.

Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, who backs the government, also warned the law would stoke communal disharmony and appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to reconsider tabling it.

The 40-member Goa assembly's strength has been reduced to 38 following the deaths of two MLAs — then Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik and Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate.