Goa, Aug. 27 -- The Goa government's decision to push through an anti-conver sion law carrying penalties of up to life imprisonment has triggered growing unease among minority communi ties, civil society groups and even sections of the political establishment, with critics questioning both the need for such legislation and the absence of any documented evidence of forced religious conversions in the State.

The State Cabinet on Tues day approved the Goa Prohi bition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, which seeks to prohibit conversion from one religion to another through misrepresentation, force, coercion, undue in fluence, allurement, fraud ulent means or marriage. The Bill is likely to be intro duced during the monsoon sessi...