The Catholic Church in India has called on the Goa government to immediately establish a State Commission for Minorities to safeguard communities facing discrimination, violence, and systemic neglect.
The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman warned that minority groups in the state urgently need statutory protection amid rising threats across the country.
The call was made by the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), together with the Goa Needs Minority Commission and Citizens’ Initiatives for Communal Harmony, in response to what they described as “frivolous and misleading remarks” by Minister Mauvin Godinho.
The groups said his comments “not only present a distorted image of the purpose of the gathering but also attempt to divert attention from the genuine concerns of the people.”
“We reiterate our legitimate demand for the immediate establishment of a State Commission for Minorities in Goa, as mandated to safeguard the rights guaranteed to minorities, especially under Articles 14, 15, 16, 19, 25, 26, 29, and 30 of the Constitution of India,” the statement said.
The groups emphasized that the Commission’s mandate would go beyond welfare schemes, noting that “its core responsibilities would be to address grievances, prevent rights violations, and promote equality, justice, and security for all minority communities.”
Rejecting proposals for an anti-conversion law in Goa, the groups argued that what the state truly needs is a functional minorities commission.
They stressed that such a body would safeguard rights, foster protection and understanding, and promote unity, while an anti-conversion law would only fuel mistrust, division, and undermine Goa’s secular and harmonious fabric.
The Church bodies cited examples from other states, noting that anti-conversion laws have often been weaponized against minorities.
In Chhattisgarh, they cited how two nuns from Kerala were arrested and charged with conversion and trafficking despite denials from the tribal women and their families.
Although the nuns were later granted bail, the groups stressed that justice had not been served and insisted that the baseless case should be completely dismissed.
They further criticized Godinho for dismissing a recent public gathering at Azad Maidan as a political event.
“The difference between a Commission, which is a body to monitor and prevent violations, and pro-actively assist minorities, and Government Departments, appears to have been lost on the Minister, who has insulted the intelligence of thousands of people gathered … by dismissively stating that it was a rally organized by political opponents,” the statement read.
“We will continue to stand firmly with all those who work for the protection of constitutional rights, the preservation of Goa’s secular ethos, and the rejection of laws that promote division rather than harmony,” it added.
The release was signed by Fr. Savio Fernandes of CSJP, Mathew Almeida of Goa Needs Minority Commission, and Ramesh Gauns of Citizens’ Initiatives for Communal Harmony.
