BJP staged a protest against the hate speech Bill outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on December 25, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Members of the Kalaburagi district unit of BJP staged a protest on December 25 opposing the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill, 2025, claiming that the legislation would curtail freedom of expression and be misused to target political opponents and dissenting voices.
BJP leaders including former MP Umesh Jadhav, legislators Basavaraj Mattimod and Avinash Jadhav, former MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur, participated in the protest outside the Deputy Commissioners’ office in Kalaburagi. Party workers raised slogans condemning the Congress-led government of Karnataka and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed legislation.
Dr Jadhav said the proposed Bill posed a serious threat to democratic values and constitutional rights. He alleged that the proposed law was vague, politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices that question the ruling government. He urged the government of Karnataka to withdraw the Bill, and hold wider consultations with all stakeholders before introducing such legislation.
The protesters said the BJP is not against curbing hate speech or maintaining communal harmony, but the Bill could be misused to harass social activists and opposition leaders under the pretext of maintaining public order.
Legislators said the proposed legislation lacked clarity and safeguards, and could undermine democratic debate. They added that the BJP would continue its protest across the district to create public awareness about the implications of the Bill.
They submitted a memorandum to the district administration addressed to the Governor seeking reconsideration of the Bill.
Published – December 26, 2025 12:55 pm IST
