Amid opposition concerns, assembly sends hate speech bill to select committee

Hyderabad: After several members expressed concerns and sought safeguards regarding the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, the Telangana assembly on Monday referred the bill to a select committee for detailed examination. Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who introduced the bill, moved a motion to send it to the committee for examination, and stated that it was not against freedom of speech. For the first time since the formation of Telangana, a bill has been referred to a select committee.Speaking in the assembly, Ponnam Prabhakar said the bill was proposed to address the growing menace of hate speech and targeted violence in the age of social media, and to protect vulnerable groups. "The law is needed to prevent, regulate and penalise such offences related to hate speech, while ensuring protection and redress for victims," the minister said. He said the bill does not violate the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, adding that certain provisions already exist in the BNS, along with bind-over powers exercised by revenue and judicial officers."The purpose is to regulate and deter. If anyone commits an offence under the law, they will be penalised, giving them a chance to change their attitude and rectify their mistakes. Only habitual offenders will be punished," the minister said. He also clarified that the proposed bill was not against any opposition members, as power is not permanent.Earlier, several MLAs spoke both in favour of and against the bill. BJP floor leader A Maheswar Reddy raised concerns that the bill could lead to human rights violations and significantly infringe upon the freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. CPI MLA Sambasiva Rao said that certain provisions were overly arbitrary, warning that their implementation could allow both state and central authorities to significantly curtail freedoms under the pretext of addressing social media misuse.AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bin Balala supported the intent of the bill but pointed out certain shortcomings, suggesting that it be referred to a select committee for broader consultations. Both BJP members and CPI MLA K Sambasiva Rao urged the speaker to withdraw the bill, while others suggested that it be sent to a select committee for further review. Interestingly, some Congress members, including Yashaswini Reddy and others, also advocated for the bill to be reviewed by a select committee while backing its overall intent.BJP MLAs Payal Shankar and Rakesh Reddy said there is a chance of police using discretion in registering cases. Khairtabad MLA Danam Nagender said AI should be adopted to curb hate speech, noting that many individuals misuse it under the guise of freedom of speech. Several other members also raised concerns about the increasing abuse of individuals. including women, on social media platforms.