After more than six hours of debate, the Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, adjourning and protesting the BJP in the well of the House.
Debate on the bill, which had earlier been passed by the Legislative Assembly, began at 10:40 a.m. on Friday when Home Minister G. Parameshwara explained the objective of the bill.
Dr. Parameshwara cited the Supreme Court’s observation in Vishal Tiwari vs Union of India and others, which said: “Hate speech cannot be tolerated as it leads to loss of dignity and self-worth of members of the target group, contributes to disharmony between groups and erodes tolerance and openness.” The Minister also presented to the Chamber some data on the increasing cases of hate speech, emphasizing the need for a new law.
In the subsequent debate, 23 members presented their opinions. While members of the ruling party made suggestions and welcomed the bill, members of the BJP opposed it and some demanded that it be taken back. Several others called for it to be sent to a House committee for review.
The debate, which started in a calm tone when KS Naveen raised his objections, took an aggressive tone when CT Ravi mentioned religion and took the name of Mahatma Gandhi and Basavanna in his argument against the bill. The tone angered members of the ruling party, leading to cacophony and a five-minute adjournment.
As the session resumed, several members joined Mr. Ravi in calling the bill “draconian and unconstitutional” and expressed fears that the state would become a “police paradise”. On the other hand, members of the ruling party defended the need for the bill.
When Dr. Parameshwara was responding to the debate, trouble started again. At one point, opposition members took exception to minister Priyank Kharge’s comment on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded that it be expunged from the records. They also sought Mr. Kharge’s apology and rushed to the Well with the slogans.
Amid the chaos, the House passed the bill, even as several members of the opposition tore up copies of the bill and threw it in the air.
Published – 19 Dec 2025 19:58 IST
