Hyderabad, March 30 The Telangana Assembly on Monday referred a bill aimed at preventing hate speech to a select committee following demands by the BJP, CPI, and also some ruling Congress members.
According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, a dedicated legislation is necessitated to effectively prevent and regulate hate speech and hate crimes as the existing legal framework does not comprehensively address hate speech and crimes.
State Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who moved the bill on behalf of the Chief Minister and later replied to the debate, denied the allegations of the BJP and other members that the provisions of the bill infringe on freedom of speech.
He said the bill is proposed without infringing on civil rights.
He suggested that the bill be referred to a Select Committee of the House for detailed examination and report.
State Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu proposed that the House authorise the Speaker to decide the number of members and to appoint members to the select committee, which was adopted by the Chair.
The bill stated that there has been a discernible increase in incidents of hate speech and crimes, particularly through digital and social media platforms, which have the potential to spread rapidly and cause serious harm to public order and social harmony.
The bill further stated that the legislation is sought to be enacted to curb and prevent the dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes that incite disharmony or hatred in society against any person, group of persons or organisations and to provide for stringent punishment for such offences.
During the debate, BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy said the bill may lead to human rights violations and "silence democracy".
According to him, it lacked a clear definition of hate speech and hate crimes and terms like disharmony and hatred are poorly defined.
The burden of proof lies on the arrested person and not on a police official, which is dangerous.
Government officials are given full protection in the bill, while common people do not enjoy any good faith. The bill can be misused for political vendetta by those in power, he alleged, demanding its reference to a select committee.
AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bin Abdulla Balala said freedom of speech might be affected due to the bill and propagation of religion should not come under the proposed legislation.
Balala, who said there are provisions in the BNS, also favoured referring the bill to a select committee.
CPI member Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao objected to the alleged provision of registering police cases against an organisation even if one member makes an objectionable speech, demanding the bill's withdrawal.
Ruling Congress member M Ragamayee, who raised concerns over hate and objectionable posts on social comments through social media, said the bill be referred to the panel to further improve it.