BENGALURU, Jan. 26 -- A political controversy erupted on Sunday after police in Chikkamagaluru district issued a warning notice to a Bharatiya Janata Party leader under provisions of the proposed Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, which is yet to be approved by the governor and notified.

The notice was issued to Vikas Puttur, a BJP leader who was scheduled to speak at a Hindu Samajotsava procession held on January 24 in Tarikere town. The Karnataka Hate Speech Bill has been passed by the legislature but is still awaiting the governor's assent and has not been notified in the state gazette, a prerequisite for it to come into force.

According to the notice served by the Chikkamagaluru police on January 22, Puttur was ins...