Mangaluru: Amid nationwide debate over the Karnataka government’s proposed ‘Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025’, KPCC general secretary Padmaraj R. Poojary on Friday said the legislation was a powerful and necessary instrument to preserve social harmony and prevent violence.
Clarifying that the Bill was not directed against any individual or community, Poojary said it was aimed solely at public welfare and social cohesion. “This law is not meant for vendetta politics but to safeguard harmony in society,” he said, congratulating the state government for what he termed a bold and timely move.
Poojary said he was among the first to suggest the introduction of a comprehensive law to curb hate speech and hate crimes and expressed satisfaction that the proposal had now taken legislative shape. Responding to criticism from opposition parties, he defended the Bill as people-friendly and said similar demands had been raised several months ago to address growing instances of incitement and violence.
Referring to the coastal districts, he said murders and violent incidents in the region had often been fuelled by hate speech and provocative rhetoric, and the government had been urged to act decisively. “It is welcome that these concerns have now been addressed through legislation,” he said.
Speaking in Mangaluru, Poojary noted a rise in speeches triggering religious and political discord across the state, particularly in coastal Karnataka. He said repeated attempts to provoke youth were a matter of serious concern and expressed confidence that the new law would help curb such tendencies and prevent conflict.
The Bill, he said, seeks to prevent hate speech and hate crimes against individuals, groups and institutions, prescribe punishment for offenders and ensure appropriate compensation for victims.
Poojary, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that youths from economically weaker backgrounds were often drawn into violence due to religious and political provocation. He recalled that a Congress-appointed fact-finding committee probing the murders of Suhas Shetty and Abdul Rahman in Dakshina Kannada had also highlighted the need for stringent laws to tackle hate speech.
Lauding the government’s decision, Poojary expressed confidence that the Bill would help Karnataka emerge as a “garden of peace” where all communities could coexist harmoniously.