'Brahmastra against opposition': Karnataka assembly passes anti-hate speech bill; BJP cries suppression of dissent

BELAGAVI: Karnataka Thursday took definitive and stringent measures to punish hate crimes, with the legislative assembly passing Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, - a first of its kind - amid strong opposition from BJP members.

The bill, piloted by home minister G Parameshwara, was passed amid din, with BJP opposing several provisions. The assembly witnessed uproar when speaker UT Khader took up the bill, tabled on Dec 10, for passage.


The bill seriously views prejudicial interests on grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability and tribe.

BJP members stormed the well and staged a dharna following an unsavoury comment by urban development minister Byrathi Suresh on coastal districts. Although the speaker expunged the remark, BJP legislators remained dissatisfied and demanded an apology. "While the govt is aiming to suppress voices of dissent through hate speech legislation, what we witnessed in the House was suppressed opposition as the bill was passed ignoring our concerns," said BJP's V Sunil Kumar.

Parameshwara said hate crimes will be punished with imprisonment of not less than a year, which may extend to seven years, along with a fine of Rs 50,000. For subsequent or repeated offences, jail term will be two years, which may extend to 10, with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The offences will be cognisable and non-bailable, and trials will be conducted by a first-class magistrate.

Bill deems organisations guilty for members' crime

The bill defines hate speech as any expression made, published or circulated - spoken or written, through signs, visible representations, electronic communication or otherwise - in public view, with the intention of causing injury, disharmony, enmity, hatred or ill-will against a person, group or community. The prejudicial interests listed include religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability and tribe.

The legislation also holds organisations liable, stating if any of its members commits a hate crime, the entire organisation will be deemed guilty, though the term "organisation" has not been defined. Opposition leader R Ashoka said: "It is draconian and a police officer will become a Hitler under this law. Freedom of expression will be violated, and freedom of press will come under threat," he said.

He pointed out that Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita already covers such offences and questioned the need for a separate law. "This is a Brahmastra (ultimate deadly weapon) against the opposition," he said. "We will be the first to bear the brunt of the law and next in the line will be media. Ultimately, it is vote bank politics."

Ashoka also objected to the use of Kannada term "dwesha aparadaha" (hate crime), saying no such word exists in the Kannada lexicon. At this point, an oblique reference by Suresha to communal violence in the coastal region triggered more uproar.