Karnataka hate speech bill aims to curb hate speech and hate crimes by providing a legal mechanism to penalise such acts.
Karnataka became the first Indian state to enact an anti-hate crime law as the state government on Thursday passed the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill amid uproar by the opposition BJP.
What is Karnataka’s hate speech bill?
Karnataka’s hate speech bill, which aims to curb hate speech and hate crimes by providing a legal mechanism to penalise such acts, regards any biases on the grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe have also been categorised as hate speech.
As per the bill, any expression, which is made, published or circulated in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest, is considered hate speech.
The law, the first of its kind in the country, initially provided for a jail term up to 10 years for repeat offences, but has been reduced to seven years and a fine of up to Rs one lakh, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said in the House on Thursday.
Karnataka passes hate speech bill
Karnataka’s Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, the first such law in the country, was cleared by the cabinet on December 4, and tabled in the state assembly on December 10.
The bill was passed in the House on Thursday amid din by BJP MLAs, who erupted in uproar after Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh said coastal Karnataka is “burning” due to hate speech and hate crime.
Suresh’s remarks during discussion on the bill drew opposition from BJP MLAs from the region, who raised objections and then trooped into the well of the house. They were followed by other BJP legislators.
