Chief Minister Siddaramaiah received a public petition near his Mysore residence. Later, he had breakfast at the Mylari Hotel.
Mysuru / Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that only those who indulge in provocative and hate-filled speeches are opposing the proposed Hate Speech Prevention Bill, asserting that the legislation is meant to maintain peace and social harmony.
Addressing the media in Mysuru, the Chief Minister remarked, “If no provocative speech is made, no cases will be registered. Why is the BJP checking its shoulder when someone mentions a pumpkin thief?”—using a Kannada idiom to suggest unnecessary defensiveness.
‘Law Applies to All, Not Targeted at BJP’
Responding to the BJP’s allegation that the proposed bill targets a particular party or community, Siddaramaiah clarified that the law applies equally to all political parties and individuals.
“Why should only the BJP oppose it? Does hate speech help maintain peace in society?” the Chief Minister asked, adding that the bill has been drafted solely to protect peace, harmony, and brotherhood.
Rising Hate Speech a Serious Concern
Siddaramaiah pointed out that incidents of hate speech have been increasing in recent times, posing a threat to social unity.
“The bill has been introduced to control this growing trend. The BJP’s strong opposition only raises doubts that they fear the law because they engage in such speeches,” he alleged.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government has no intention of misusing the law, stressing that action would be taken only against those who violate the provisions by making inflammatory statements.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: “ಪ್ರಚೋದನಕಾರಿ ಭಾಷಣ ಮಾಡುವವರಿಗೇ ಮಸೂದೆ ಭಯ”: ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ ಸಿಎಂ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯ ತಿರುಗೇಟು
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