The legislative assembly of the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka on Thursday passed a bill criminalizing hate speech , Despite opposition from members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conservative BJP party, which is the opposition in the state.
according to The Times of IndiaThe “Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill” broadly defines hate speech as expression causing disaffection or hostility and provides for compensation to the victim, fine and even a prison sentence of up to seven years.
During the Assembly debate on the bill, Karnataka’s Urban Development Minister Birthi Suresh said the coastal region is “burning” with hate speech and hate crimes.
Regional Home Minister Gangadharaiya Parameshwara also cited a May 2025 Supreme Court judgment that stressed the need for efforts to prevent the spread of communal hatred through hate speech.
Karnataka BJP claims bill curbs freedom of speech
However, the BJP opposition in Karnataka has questioned the need for the bill and criticized the manner in which it was passed.
Opposition leader Ramaiah Ashok claimed that the purpose of the bill is not to ban hate speech but to target opposition parties and the media.
“Through this law, the state government is taking away the right to speak granted by the Constitution from the people, and putting opposition leaders and media behind bars,” he said in quoted comments. The HinduClaiming that existing laws were already strong enough to prevent such crimes.
The opposition also complained that the bill was passed when BJP MLAs were protesting outside the House.
“There was no need to curtail the opportunity for discussion,” Ashok said, demanding that the bill be referred to a House committee for further scrutiny, which was rejected by the Speaker.
Karnataka Law Minister Hanumantha Gowda Krishnagowda Patil confirmed that the bill has been passed and said there will be no further opportunity to discuss it.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko