Archives mantri backs demand for anti-love jihad law in state

Margao: Minister for archives and archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, strongly condemned what he termed ‘love jihad’, calling it a “perverse tendency” attempting to infiltrate Goan society. He also extended support to demands for anti-conversion legislation in the state.After receiving a representation from Ranragini — a right-wing women’s organisation — on Saturday, Phal Dessai said he welcomed their demand for the immediate enactment of an anti-love jihad law in Goa. “Love jihad is a very perverse kind of thing which made inroads in India and is now trying to infiltrate into Goa,” he said.The Sanguem MLA said that his opposition was not rooted in communal hatred. “We don’t have any hatred towards any religion, but working against other religions, trying to exploit women of other religions, and worse, harassing them, is what we are condemning,” he said.Phal Dessai’s comments come months after chief minister Pramod Sawant told the assembly in July 2025 that Goa needed anti-conversion laws similar to those in Uttar Pradesh. Sawant promised to release data on alleged love jihad cases in the state and emphasised that such legislation would only target forced conversions, not consensual inter-religious marriages. “Conversion should not take place by offering lures like money, etc,” Sawant had said.However, the proposal faced resistance from sections of the opposition. GFP’s Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, challenged the CM’s assertions, claiming “there are no cases of love jihad in Goa”, and accused govt of pushing a national political agenda.Ranragini has been presenting representations to MLAs and ministers across Goa, seeking legislative action on the issue.