Representative image showing a police officer.
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Bengaluru: Is the ruling Congress in Karnataka trying to enforce a proposed law even before the Governor’s nod?
A notice served on BJP leader by the Chikkamagaluru district police ahead of a ‘Hindu Samajotsava’ procession, citing the Hate Speech bill provisions, triggered a debate in the state Assembly on Wednesday.
BJP MLA from Karkala Sunil Kumar, in a calling attention motion alleged that that members of Hindu outfits were being targeted by the state government through the police department. He said the police had imposed restriction on the movement of the Hindu workers, slapped notices and also filed suo motu cases against them to prevent them from attending the ’Samajotsav’ events.
“The government has hatched a ploy to restrict Hindu activists and leaders like Dr Prabhakar Bhat, Sharan Pumpwell, Chakravarthy Sulibele, Vikas Puttur and Puneet Kerehalli from going to various districts. I want to draw the minister’s attention to the fact that no clashes or riots have been reported from Samjotsav celebrations. But you have pre-emptive steps and booking the cases,” said Sunil Kumar.
Citing the police notice issued to Vikas Puttur, who was invited as one of the main speakers at the ‘Samajotsav’ event at Tarikere, Sunil Kumar said, “The police notice warned him against any act that would violate the provisions under the Karnataka Hate Speech Bill, 2025, even though the Bill has not yet received the Governor’s assent and is therefore not enforceable as law.”
The BJP leader demanded to know what amounted to “provocation” and stated that the police booked a suo motu case against RSS leader Prabhakar Bhat for his speech on Mughal’s invading India. “Does the state government not able to tolerate Hindu activists?“ asked Sunilkumar and added that Karnataka was not so volatile as to impose such restrictions or book cases.
The BJP demanded action against the police officer issuing notices based on a law which is yet to get the Governor’s assent.
Law minister H.K. Patil said such matters are normally handled at the SP or DC level. “The government does not interfere in these cases. Every government has taken such decisions to prevent communal clashes and inflammatory speeches. This is only a procedure to check communal clashes.”
LOP R. Ashok questioned the legal basis of the notices, pointing out that the Hate Speech Bill has not yet become law.
Sunil Kumar also added that there had been no clashes reported at any Samajotsav event, but in DJ Halli and KG Halli. BJP demanded action against the concerned police personnel.
Patil assured the Assembly that the government would investigate why police officers were issuing notices under the non-existent law, and “suitable” action would be taken holding discussions with the Home minister.