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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International Federation of Journalists says 128 journalists killed worldwide in 2025
Majority killed in conflict zones
Brussels, Belgium: A total of 128 journalists lost their lives across the world in 2025, with more than half of the deaths recorded in the Middle East, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said on Thursday.
According to the global press body, the Palestinian territories accounted for the highest number of fatalities, with 56 media professionals killed as Israel’s war with Hamas continued in Gaza. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger described the situation as unprecedented, saying the concentration of deaths in such a small geographical area over a short period had not been seen before.
“This is not just a statistic. It is a global red alert for our colleagues,” Bellanger told AFP, warning that the scale of violence against journalists reflected a deepening crisis for press freedom worldwide.
Journalists were also killed in several other countries during the year, including Yemen, Ukraine, Sudan, Peru and India. This shows the risks faced by media workers in both conflict zones and politically volatile regions.
Bellanger also criticised the lack of accountability for attacks on journalists, arguing that impunity continued to fuel violence against the press. Without justice, he said, those responsible for targeting journalists are emboldened to continue.
The IFJ report said 533 journalists were currently imprisoned, a figure that has more than doubled over the past five years. China remained the world’s largest jailer of journalists, with 143 reporters detained, including several in Hong Kong, where the imposition of national security laws has drawn criticism from Western governments.
The IFJ noted that its death toll is typically higher than figures released by other watchdogs due to differences in methodology. Its count for 2025 includes nine journalists who died in accidents. In comparison, Reporters Without Borders reported 67 journalists killed in the line of duty during the year, while UNESCO placed the number at 93.
