BJP taking country on path of progress: UP CM Adityanath in Puttur
Puttur, May 6: Raising the pitch for the BJP's election campaign in south Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday held massive roadshows at Puttur and Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district and Karkala in Udupi.
Adityanath, who first arrived in Puttur, where party candidate Asha Thimmappa Gowda is pitted against Ashok Kumar Rai of Congress and a BJP rebel Arun Kumar Puthila, said the BJP is taking the country on path of progress.
Addressing the gathering from the campaign vehicle after the end of his roadshow, Adityanatha said the Congress has always been trying to put hurdles on the path of progress.
Though the Congress tried to prevent the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the BJP successfully fought the issue in court and the temple will turn into a reality in the near future, he said.
The Congress is now after Bajrang Dal as the party is against patriotic people and try out to demoralise those who uphold nationalist policies, he said.
Adityanath said the people of Karnataka should vote for a Team India' to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the BJP has fielded the best candidate in Puttur and asked voters to support Asha Thimmappa Gowda.
Adityanath later campaigned for State Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar at Karkala in Udupi, where also the BJP is facing an unlikely rebel in the form of Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik. Congress has fielded Muniyalu Uday Shetty, a confidante of former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily in the seat.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister held a grand roadshow in Karkala and spoke to the gathering in a few words exhorting them to vote for a "double engine" government for sustained progress.
At the final roadshow of the day at B C Road in Bantwal, where BJP's young leader and incumbent MLA Rajesh Naik is facing former Minister B Ramanath Rai of Congress, Adityanath was given a rousing welcome by enthusiastic party workers.
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Addressing the huge gathering, Adityanath called upon the people of Karnataka to stop the Congress from coming to power as the party has declared intention to ban patriotic organisations like the Bajrang Dal. "Congress is always blocking the path to progress initiated by the BJP government under Narendra Modi," he said.
In a passionate speech, he also invited the people of Karnataka to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh when the Ram temple will be inaugurated in January next year, to the loud cheers from the public.
In all the three meetings, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel and leaders including candidates in the respective segments accompanied Adityanath.
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Supreme Court declines fresh curbs on hate speech, says existing laws are enough
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday refused to issue additional directions to curb hate speech across the country, holding that the existing legal framework is sufficient and that the real issue lies in implementation rather than absence of law.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said creation of criminal offences falls within the legislative domain and courts cannot legislate or compel Parliament and state legislatures to enact laws.
The Bench observed that constitutional courts can interpret the law and issue directions for enforcement of fundamental rights, but cannot step into the law-making role.
“At the highest, the court may draw attention to the need for reform. The decision whether and in what manner to legislate remains within the exclusive domain of Parliament and the state legislatures,” the court said.
The court held that the field of hate speech is not legally vacant and said concerns arise mainly from poor enforcement of existing provisions.
It also noted that the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, provides a comprehensive mechanism to set criminal law in motion, meaning there is no legislative vacuum.
Referring to remedies already available under the earlier Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the BNSS, the court said police are duty-bound to register an FIR when a cognisable offence is disclosed, as laid down in the Lalita Kumari judgment.
It said if police fail to register an FIR, an aggrieved person can approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 154(3) of CrPC or Section 173(4) of BNSS, and thereafter move the magistrate under Section 156(3) CrPC or Section 175 BNSS, or file a private complaint under Section 200 CrPC or Section 223 BNSS.
The Bench further held that an order directing investigation under Section 156(3) CrPC does not amount to taking cognisance under Section 190 CrPC or the corresponding Section 210 of BNSS.
Even while declining fresh directions, the court acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.
It observed that hate speech and rumour-mongering directly affect fraternity, dignity and constitutional order.
The Bench urged legislative authorities to consider whether further policy or legal measures are needed in view of changing social challenges, including suggestions made in the 267th Report of the Law Commission in 2017.
The judgment came in a batch of petitions arising from events dating back to 2020, when multiple pleas were filed over alleged communal narratives spread through television channels and social media.
Among the earliest cases were challenges relating to content described as the “Corona Jihad” campaign and a programme aired by Sudarshan TV titled “UPSC Jihad”. During those proceedings, the court had restrained further telecast of the programme.
Later, more petitions were filed over speeches made at religious gatherings described as “Dharam Sansad” events.
These included pleas moved by journalist Qurban Ali and Major General S.G. Vombatkere seeking action against alleged hate speeches made at such forums.
During the pendency of the matter, the Supreme Court in 2023 had issued major directions asking all states and Union Territories to act proactively in cases involving communal hate speeches or remarks hurting religious sentiments.
It had directed police to register FIRs suo motu, without waiting for formal complaints.
Later, contempt petitions were also filed alleging poor implementation of those earlier directions.
