‘Unnecessary statements being made to create confusion’: Home Minister Parameshwara on hate speech Bill

BENGALURU: Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that the hate speech Bill, introduced by the state government, has been brought with a long-term vision, and that unnecessary statements are being made to create confusion among the general public, with different consequences arising from that.

Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said the government has informed the governor about the bill and that if he seeks any further clarification, it will be provided. The Karnataka assembly passed the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025 in December 2025.

“We have already informed the Governor. We have explained everything in all respects. If he seeks any further clarification, we will provide it. This is a Bill with a long-term vision. Unnecessary statements are being made to create confusion among the general public, and the consequences arising from that are different. In many ways, its impact will be felt on society”, he said while responding to a question related to Karnataka governor not giving assent to Hate Speech Bill.

Parameshwara asserted that the Bill was introduced after discussion and accused the BJP leaders of creating a “ruckus” over the issue.

“We discussed the matter and only then brought the bill. When I presented it in the House, I explained it in detail. At that point itself, BJP members created a ruckus. Therefore, we passed the bill and sent it to the Governor. If the Governor seeks any clarification, we are ready to respond”, Parameshwara said.

Parameshwara also met with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and invited him to the state-level sports meet in Tumakuru, set to begin on January 16.

Bengaluru | Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Sadashiva Nagar residence. He extended an invitation to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to attend the ‘Karnataka Sports Meet’ to be held in Tumkur from January 16 to 22,… pic.twitter.com/p1KNhjxfxU

— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2026

Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said the sports meet will be inaugurated by CM Siddaramaiah on January 16 and conclude on January 22. “Today, I met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. We are organising the state-level sports meet in Tumakuru from the 16th to the 22nd. I had come to invite him for the event,” Parameshwara told reporters.

The Minister said 8,000 sportspersons will participate in the sports meet, while the valedictory function will be attended by the state governor. Parameshwara said that nothing else was discussed during his meeting with Shivakumar.

“Around 8,000 sportspersons will be participating. We are organizing 27 sports events in Tumakuru. We are conducting a large-scale sports meet. The Chief Minister will inaugurate it on the 16th. The Governor will attend the valedictory function on the 22nd. I came to meet D.K. Shivakumar regarding this. Apart from this, no other issues were discussed”, he said.

He further said that the sports meet is not being held at the city’s Mahatma Gandhi stadium but will be held in an Indoor stadium outside the venue. Parameshwara stated that a confusion is being created related to the venue of the event.

“It is a decision taken by sportspersons. I didn’t know about this decision. It is not the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium; people are trying to create some confusion. It is actually outside the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium. It is a small arena for indoor sports, which they wanted to name after Parameshwara. Come to think of it, I have also contributed to sports in Tumkuru, but that doesn’t mean I am trying to push that”, he said. (ANI)