Karnataka govt considering law against hate speech, online betting: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, May 31 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that his government is "seriously considering" a law against hate speech.
He also said that discussions are on regarding enacting a law against online betting.
The CM said this at the end of a two-day review meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all districts and CEOs of all Zilla Panchayats here.
"I have said if anyone makes hate speech, action should be taken against them. We will bring a law against it. The government is seriously considering it," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Merciless action should be taken against those making hate speeches irrespective of how influential they are. Criminal cases should be filed against them."
Reiterating that there is a direct relationship between law and order and development and that they should be ensured across the state, the CM said he has given strict instructions to the DCs and SPs to nip in the bud, the forces that disrupt the intentions and objectives of the Constitution.
This statement has come in the wake of recent communal murders that have taken place in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada.
Regarding online betting, Siddaramaiah said Law Minister H K Patil and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge are discussing the action that needs to be taken in this regard and if there is need for a legislation.
"Based on what they suggest after the discussion, necessary action will be taken," he said.
Youngsters are falling prey to the cricket betting, and activities such as gambling, matka should be strictly controlled in the districts, he further said, this menace should be curbed ruthlessly without giving in to any pressure.
Also, instructions have been given to take strict action against those violating the law that has been enacted, aimed at protecting borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs), he said.
Noting that about 700 child marriages took place in the state last year (2024-25), Siddaramaiah said he has instructed to ensure that child marriages don't happen at all at any cost.
"There are laws against child marriage. Preventing them is one part. It should also be ensured that they don't happen at any cost. Also child pregnancy cases should also be prevented," he said, adding that the officers at the grassroot level should be used to ensure that they are stopped in both urban and rural areas.
Officials have been asked to bring down the Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate in the state, he said.
The DCs, CEOs and SPs are the three most important posts in the districts and these officers should leave their ego and work as a bridge between the government and the people. "Only if there is coordination between these three, the development of the district is possible," he said.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
