The Karnataka government is considering a stringent new law to curb hate speech and related crimes, in light of increasing communal tensions in coastal districts. The move comes amid growing pressure on the state government to curb incidents of communal violence and hate speech in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Saturday, May 31, that he would discuss with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah the possibility of passing a law against hate speech during the upcoming legislature session.
Citing the ease with which individuals accused of such offenses secure bail under current laws, Rao said, “There is a need to strengthen the law. Right now, people engaging in hate speech or spreading hate through social media come out on bail very easily.”
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said during a review meeting with deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat chief executive officers, on Saturday, May 31, that his government is “seriously considering” a dedicated anti-hate speech law.
“Indiscriminate action must be taken irrespective of how influential the accused person is,” Siddaramaiah said, directing deputy commissioners to file cases against offenders. He also questioned why action was lacking despite Supreme Court directives on the issue.
There has been a spike in hate speech, particularly on social media, since the mob lynching of a mentally ill Muslim man named Ashraf. The rise incendiary content has continued since then, over the murders of rowdy-sheeter Suhas Shetty and then Abdul Rahman.
In a parallel development, Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar has formed a seven-member party committee to investigate the situation in communally-sensitive districts.
The panel, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, includes KPCC working president Manjunath Bhandary, MLA NA Haris, and former ministers Kimmane Rathnakar and Jayaprakash Hegde. They are expected to submit their findings within a week.
These developments come amid mounting criticism from civil society groups over inaction against hate speech. The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) recently accused local police and Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao of failing to address a growing climate of hate in Mangaluru and surrounding areas.
In a statement following the recent murder of Abdul Rehman, PUCL said, “There has been a deafening silence from the Mangalore police regarding action taken on the hate speeches we reported.”
They questioned the lack of transparency on FIRs filed and alleged that ongoing police inaction had emboldened perpetrators. “What action has been taken against individuals creating this environment of hate-filled lawlessness?” the group asked, urging accountability from both police and elected officials.