K'taka Assembly passes country's maiden anti-hate speech law; BJP calls it 'Brahmastra' against oppn
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the country's maiden anti-hate speech legislation, which the BJP termed as a "Brahmastra" against the opposition and the media with an eye on "vote bank politics".
The Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill was passed in the House amid din by the BJP MLAs, with the government referring to the Supreme Court observations against hateful remarks.
The bill has a provision for a fine up to Rs one lakh and a jail term up to seven years.
Home Minister G Parameshwara said the provision for 10 years jail term in the event of repeated offence has been reduced to seven years.
The bill, cleared by the cabinet on December 4 was presented in the House by Parameshwara on December 10.
According to the bill, any expression, which is made, published or circulated in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest, is hate speech.
While discussing the bill, Parameshwara said the Supreme Court had come down strongly against hate speech saying that it cannot be tolerated.
He said hate speech and hate crimes lead to murders, create social unrest and vitiate the society.
The minister pointed out that prejudices happen in the name of religion, language, disability, gender, sexual orientation, caste, race, the place of birth, tribe or residence.
"I think the law will bring a major change in the society," Parameshwara noted.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the law will turn police into 'Hitler'.
It violates the constitutional provision of freedom of expression.
Even cartoons and pictures have not been spared. It will also attack the freedom of press and curb digital freedom, the BJP leader claimed.
"There will be rampant extortion. There will be no bail but only jail under this law. What else should we expect from those who imposed Emergency in this country," Ashoka said taking a swipe at the ruling Congress.
According to him, all the crimes mentioned in the law are already there in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new Indian Penal Code but yet the Congress government in Karnataka has brought it.
"This is a Brahmastra (ultimate deadly weapon) against the opposition. We will be the first to bear the brunt of the law and next in the line will be the media. Ultimately, it is vote bank politics," the LoP charged.
He also said that there will be a need for more prisons in the state, "which the pauper government cannot afford".
Ashoka cautioned the ruling Congress that the law was not good for it as well and advised it to be cautious while giving passage to the bill.
BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar sought to know what if someone quotes hate contents from a book, which can be religious.
In reply, the Home Minister said those books published in the past will also be covered under the law.
Sunil Kumar said the minister was inviting trouble for himself as he would quote hate contents in the religious books.
Participating in the discussion, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh claimed coastal Karnataka is "burning" due to hate speech and hate crime.
Enraged with the statement, BJP MLAs from coastal Karnataka such as Vedavyas Kamath, Harish Poonja, Sunil Kumar and several others took strong objection and demanded an apology.
They then trooped to the well of the House to press for their demand. Other BJP MLAs followed suit.
Amid the din, the bill was passed by the House, which was later adjourned.
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#WATCH | Belagavi, Karnataka | On Karnataka Assembly passes Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025, State Minister Priyank Kharge says, "The Supreme Court has laid down a very clear definition of hate speech. They have said hate speech should be curbed, correct? They… pic.twitter.com/3qTEjg86cd
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2025
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Kerala CM Vijayan flags ‘The Kerala Story 2’ as ‘threat to secularism’
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed concern over the upcoming release of the second part of 'The Kerala Story', claiming that its first installment was made with the "intent to spread hatred against the state and undermine its secular tradition."
Vijayan, in a statement issued by his office, also questioned how "poisonous works produced to spread division and hatred in society" were allowed to be screened, while a film like 'Beef' was barred from a film festival.
He further said that Sangh Parivar centres had taken over and spread the false narrative conveyed by 'The Kerala Story'.
“They are spreading false propaganda by portraying even marriages conducted with mutual consent as examples of communalism and forced religious conversion,” the CM said.
He contended that such forces view Kerala—with no communal riots and a tradition of mutual respect among communities—with hostility, and termed them “enemies of the state” attempting to destroy the peace and tranquility of the region.
“We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, a land of religious harmony that stands at the forefront of sustainable development and is a model in maintaining law and order, as a center of terrorism,” Vijayan said.
“It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that Kerala’s secular foundation is not undermined by false propaganda and to reject it by upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood,” he added.
Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, the teaser of 'Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond', was released recently.
The first film, 'The Kerala Story', won awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards.
