By Shivani P Menon
On Thursday, December 18, the Karnataka Assembly, amid noisy protests by BJP MLAs cleared a bill aimed at curbing hate speech.
The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill, 2025, was initiated by Home Minister G. Parmeshwara. The BJP opposed this bill, saying that it infringes upon the constitutional principle of freedom of expression.
This bill is claimed to be the first of its kind in the country that provides punishment of up to seven years in prison, along with a fine of up to ₹50,000. The Home Minister said that for repeat offences. The maximum punishment has been brought down from 10 years to seven and, with a fine of ₹1 lakh.
On December 4, the bill was cleared by the cabinet, and by the 10th, it was presented in the House by the home minister.
During the discussion, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar criticised the legislation, calling it dangerous and inadequately thought through, and raised concerns about how its provisions could be interpreted.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka’s speech was cut short after Speaker U.T Khader brought the debate to a close, following which Ashoka tore up a copy of the Bill in protest.
According to the Bill, hate speech includes any expression made, published, or circulated in public view, whether through spoken words, signs, visible representations, electronic communication or other means with the intent to cause harm, disharmony, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will against an individual whether living or deceased or against a class, group or community, in a manner prejudicial to public interest.
The debate witnessed sharp exchanges between Congress and BJP members when the issue of Ambedkar was raised. Chaos erupted after Urban Development Minister B.S. Suresha remarked that BJP MLAs had burned the coastal region, triggering protests in the well of the House. Amid the pandemonium, Speaker U.T. Khader went ahead and passed the Bill.
R. Ashoka and the other Opposition members criticised Khader’s decision, demanding that the Bill be taken up for further discussion and referred to a select committee for scrutiny. When the Speaker refused, the Opposition staged a walkout.