Belagavi: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly was engulfed in a political storm on December 18, as the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government successfully passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill-2025, despite intense opposition from the BJP and other dissenting parties. The session, held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, turned into a battlefield of words and protest when Urban Development Minister Bhairati Suresh made a statement targeting coastal legislators, sparking outrage.
During the heated debate, Minister Bhairati Suresh addressed BJP MLAs from coastal Karnataka, saying, “You coastal people are the ones who are setting fires.” The remark triggered immediate anger from BJP members, including coastal representatives Sunil Kumar, Vedavyasa Kamath, Channabasappa, Harish Poonja, and Rajesh Nayak. They accused the minister of insulting the culture and traditions of coastal Karnataka and demanded a formal apology. Sunil Kumar emphasized that the statement was a direct affront to the coastal community and urged the minister to publicly retract it.
The confrontation escalated further when Speaker UT Khader attempted to intervene, assuring BJP members that the remark would be expunged from official records. However, the opposition refused to accept the assurances, moved to the well of the House, raised slogans, and vocally protested the government’s approach. In a dramatic moment, Opposition Leader R. Ashok tore up a copy of the bill, signaling the BJP’s fierce resistance. At the same time, state president B.Y. Vijayendra denounced the legislation as a tool to silence dissent rather than to genuinely prevent hate speech.
The uproar led to an adjournment until 3 pm, as BJP members insisted on a formal apology from Minister Suresh and a review of the bill before it could proceed. Despite the protests, Home Minister G. Parameshwara successfully moved the bill, and the House passed it amidst continued opposition. Congress leaders defended the bill as a necessary step to prevent hate speech and communal tension, claiming it protects citizens while maintaining law and order.
