BENGALURU, Jan. 12 -- Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has neither approved nor returned the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention and Control) Bill, leaving the proposed law in limbo weeks after it was passed by the state legislature.

"The Bill was passed unanimously. It is not rejected, sent back or accepted yet," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mangaluru before leaving for Bengaluru after concluding official programmes. He added that the government would offer clarifications if the Raj Bhavan sought them, saying the governor would be briefed about the Bill when required.

Two key legislations were cleared during the winter session of the Assembly - the hate speech Bill a...