New Delhi: The Karnataka Assembly Tuesday cleared the controversial hate speech legislation despite fierce opposition from BJP MLAs, who stormed the well protesting its introduction by Home Minister G Parameshwara. Framed by CM Siddaramaiah’s Congress government and cabinet-approved December 4, the bill classifies any public expression—spoken, written, signed, electronic, or visible—intended to incite enmity, hatred, or ill-will against individuals, groups, or communities as hate speech, punishable as a cognizable, non-bailable offense triable by Judicial Magistrate First Class.
First-time offenders face 1-7 years imprisonment plus Rs 50,000 fine; repeat offenses escalate to 2 years minimum and Rs 1 lakh fine (reduced from proposed 10 years). Organizations hold leaders vicariously liable. Victim compensation scales with severity, drawing definitions from Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and IT Act. Exemptions shield public interest works in science, art, literature, heritage, good-faith public servant acts, and bona fide religious/heritage materials.
Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh justified urgency citing “burning” coastal Karnataka from hate crimes, sparking BJP walkout. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar affirmed it upholds peace amid law-order priorities. BJP’s Sunil Kumar demanded vote division; Speaker proceeded. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy slammed it as opposition-silencing ploy post-Chamundeshwari puja, vowing resilience
