JD(S) urges Governor to withhold assent to Karnataka Hate Speech Bill
Bengaluru: A delegation of the Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday submitted a petition to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging him to withhold assent to the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill passed by the Congress government during the Winter Session of the state Legislature.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, the delegation, led by the party’s floor leader in the Assembly C B Suresh Babu, contended that the bill, in its present form, poses a serious threat to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
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The JD(S) leaders requested the Governor to exercise his constitutional discretion and refuse approval to the bill, arguing that several provisions could be misused to curb dissent and suppress opposing views. They also flagged concerns that certain clauses may be in conflict with constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“The bill does not guarantee protection for individual dignity, which is fundamental to democratic accountability,” the petition submitted to the Governor said.
JD(S) core committee president Krishna Reddy said the proposed legislation reflected misplaced priorities of the Congress government. “Instead of addressing citizens’ problems, the government is interested in this bill that snatches the right that guarantees Freedom of Speech and Expression. We have petitioned the Governor, and in the coming days, will launch an agitation to protest the bill,” he said.
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Delhi Police recovers 711 stolen, lost mobile sets worth Rs 1 cr
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has recovered 711 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 1 crore from the Shahdara area and handed over 86 sets to their rightful owners, an official said on Thursday.
The recovery was made under the nationwide drive, 'Operation Vishwas', launched in May last year, to trace and recover stolen, snatched, robbed and lost mobile phones, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said.
The officer said that based on technical analysis, 13 teams from various police stations and district units were formed to recover the devices.
He said several people voluntarily returned mobile phones after being contacted, while in other cases, teams had to conduct focused field action to retrieve the devices.
According to the police data, Shahdara district had recovered 205 mobile phones in 2023, 555 in 2024 and 711 in 2025, taking the cumulative total to 1,471 devices over three years.
