Bengaluru, Dec. 24 -- Multiple Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and a right-wing organisation active in the state have written to governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, urging him to deny assent to the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, currently pending for his approval after it was passed in the winter assembly amid backlash by the opposition.

Union Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on December 19 announced on the social media X that she had written to Gehlot to urge him to withhold assent and reserve the Bill for Presidential consideration under Article 200.

"The Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill 2025 hands the state sweeping authority to s...