Bengaluru, February 2: Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced on Monday that the implementation of the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, has been put on hold. The Governor has raised questions over 28 provisions of the bill and sent it to the President for further examination.
In a statement to the media, the Home Minister said, “The bill has been sent to the President to delay its enforcement. We will wait and see what happens next. If the President returns it after review, we will make the necessary changes and resend it.”
Parameshwara emphasized that freedom of expression does not mean people can say anything without considering its impact on society. “Insulting any community and making personal attacks can disturb social harmony. We have witnessed situations arising from such speeches. This bill was introduced keeping that in mind. Can anyone spread tension in society by saying whatever they want?” he asked.
Addressing the suicide of industrialist CJ Roy, the Home Minister said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to prevent rumors and speculation. “Let the SIT report come in. We need to see everyone’s role in the matter,” he added.
Reacting to the Union Budget 2026, Parameshwara said people had high hopes from this budget for the country’s development, but those hopes were not fulfilled. He described Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget as the weakest among her nine presented budgets so far.
He recalled that earlier budgets gave proper attention to agriculture and industry and announced many poverty alleviation schemes. Mentioning former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, he said that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was a unique global initiative which is now being ignored, causing disappointment across the country.
Parameshwara pointed out that out of the total budget of ₹53.50 lakh crore, the central government has borrowed ₹16 lakh crore. He questioned the government’s preaching after taking such a huge loan and asked what was actually given to the public in return.
He claimed that the budget offered nothing special for Karnataka, with no major projects announced. He said more focus should have been given to irrigation, agriculture, and infrastructure. “Without any new schemes, can this be called a budget?” he questioned.
On education, he noted that while education is rapidly changing worldwide, India is being left behind. Karnataka was hoping for institutions like IIT and AIIMS, but the budget only talked about reducing prices of plastic and firecrackers. He described the budget as disappointing.
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