In a significant political demonstration, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists staged a strong protest in Shivamogga on Friday, levelling serious accusations against the ruling Congress government in Karnataka. The protestors alleged that the newly introduced Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025 is a tool to stifle freedom of speech and muzzle the opposition and the press.
Protest at City Centre Against "Draconian" Law
The protest was organized in front of the prominent Shivappa Nayaka statue located in the city centre. The BJP workers and leaders gathered to voice their dissent against what they term a "constitutionally dangerous" piece of legislation. They argued that the bill's broad and vague definitions would effectively prevent opposition parties from raising people's issues and critically examining the government's work.
Leading the protest, Shivamogga MLA SN Chennabasappa delivered a fiery speech. He claimed that the bill was passed in the assembly without proper discussion, as the BJP was not allowed to speak on it. "If we talk about what Congress is doing wrong, we will be slapped with the hate speech laws," Chennabasappa stated, encapsulating the core of the BJP's grievance.
MLA's Contentious Claims and Government's Alleged Motive
Chennabasappa further elaborated on his objections with a series of contentious examples. He contended that speaking factual truths would now be branded as hate speech under the new law. "If we say that Congress is responsible for dividing the country, it will be considered hate speech," he argued.
The MLA made specific allegations linking anti-national activities to a particular community, stating, "Claiming that terrorists are mostly from the minority community... when we point this out, Congress gets upset." He cited the Delhi bomb blast case and a trial blast on the banks of Shivamogga's Tunga River as instances where the perpetrators belonged to minority communities.
He extended his criticism to issues like cow slaughter, asserting that protesting against it could also be deemed hate speech. "The bill is designed to protect those who violate the laws and to punish those who raise these questions," Chennabasappa claimed, alleging a partisan motive behind the legislation.
Constitutional Challenge and Demand for Scrapping
The BJP leaders at the protest uniformly declared that the bill is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution. They demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the proposed law. The central argument presented was that the bill, under the guise of preventing hate, would criminalize legitimate political discourse and criticism, thereby undermining democratic fundamentals.
The protest in Shivamogga highlights the escalating political tensions in Karnataka over this legislative move. It sets the stage for a prolonged confrontation between the ruling Congress and the principal opposition BJP on the critical issues of legal boundaries, free speech, and political accountability.
