Congress pushing Karnataka towards ‘undeclared Emergency’: Shobha Karandlaje

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was attempting to impose an “undeclared Emergency” in the State by curbing freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office, Ms. Karandlaje criticised the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, stating that it violated Article 19(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

She said the Belagavi legislature session should have focused on addressing issues concerning North Karnataka, but was instead “reduced to discussions centred on the hate speech Bill”.

She said she had written to the Governor urging him not to grant assent to the Bill and added that the President would also be approached if necessary.

The Union Minister said the legislation empowered district officials, including deputy commissioners and superintendents of police, to determine cases involving speech, amounting to an encroachment on the judiciary’s role.

Fact-check agency

Ms. Karandlaje raised objections to the functioning of the State’s fact-check agency, alleging that it was being run with the involvement of private individuals and organisations sympathetic to the Congress. She said the agency, formed in 2023, was chaired by IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge and included the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Home Minister as members.

She alleged that the agency was being allocated ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore annually and accused the government of using it to monitor media and social media activity and to initiate criminal cases through the police.

According to her, several BJP social media volunteers, MLAs and MLCs had been booked based on reports generated by the agency.

On Priyank Kharge

In a separate press conference, former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MP Govind Karjol condemned remarks allegedly made by Minister Priyank Kharge against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Legislative Council. He demanded that Mr Kharge tender an apology.

Mr. Karjol said that since the hate speech law had been passed by both Houses, Mr. Kharge should be the “first accused” under the same law.