“Why are the BJP and its allies panicking?” Priyank Kharge questioned the opposition to the hate speech bill.

Belagavi: Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday questioned the BJP for opposing the bill introduced in the Karnataka Assembly to ban hate speech. Kharge said the bill will be discussed in the Assembly. “Why are the BJP and its allies panicking? It has nothing to do with them.” Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad said the bill is in line with the existing legal framework. He asked, “There’s a law for everything, so we’re doing the same. What’s wrong with that?”

Minister Madhu Bangarappa echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the responsible use of social media. He said, “Social media should be used appropriately. Spreading misinformation on social media should be punishable.”

The state government has introduced the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, in the Assembly. Opposition parties have opposed the bill. The government is taking steps to curb hate speech. For this reason, the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill was introduced in the Assembly session. This bill has been a topic of political discussion for the past few days.

The government stated that this bill will prohibit any individual or group from making hate speech based on religion, caste, language, place of birth, gender, or community. Hate speech includes incitement with the intent to cause any kind of emotional, mental, physical, social, or economic harm. Broadcasting, publishing, and propagating hate speech will also be considered a crime. If hate speech is delivered by someone holding a responsible position, a case can also be filed against their organization or institution.

The government clarified that this bill does not target any particular political party or community. Rather, it is intended to maintain social harmony in the state and prevent the spread of hatred. This law will be implemented regardless of which government comes to power in the future. The government has warned leaders, organization heads, and individuals to exercise caution when speaking on platforms and social media. Under this bill, those who engage in hate speech will be punished with imprisonment for one to seven years. Repeated offenses will result in imprisonment for two to ten years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 rupees. The government stated that such acts will be considered non-bailable offenses.