In a sharp political attack, former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has launched a scathing critique against the state's Congress government over a proposed new legislation. On Sunday, Bommai alleged that the administration has introduced an unconstitutional Hate Speech Bill with the primary goal of muzzling the opposition, farmers, and the general public.
An Alleged Tool for Suppression
Speaking to the media in Gadag, Bommai claimed the bill's real intention is to curb the freedom of citizens to speak out against corruption and misgovernance. He argued that the ruling party, having failed on all development fronts, is now resorting to legal measures to stifle criticism.
"No department is functioning effectively," Bommai stated, painting a grim picture of the state's administration. "Corruption has increased sharply and the state has been pushed towards financial distress." According to him, the Hate Speech Bill is a pretext to prevent people from opposing this deteriorating situation.
Existing Laws vs. New Legislation
The BJP leader pointed out a significant contradiction in the government's move. He accused Congress leaders themselves of regularly indulging in hate speech. More importantly, he highlighted that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) are already sufficient to deal with such offences.
"Despite this, the government has introduced a bill that goes against the Constitution," the former chief minister alleged, questioning the necessity and timing of the new law.
Defending the G Ram G Bill Amendments
Shifting focus to a central government initiative, Bommai also responded to the Congress party's opposition to the amendments in the G Ram G Bill. He reminded critics that the bill was extensively debated in Parliament for over 15 hours.
Bommai explained that while the original law has been in place for 15-20 years, rural India's conditions have transformed dramatically, necessitating updates. He addressed allegations of corruption head-on, noting that misuse of schemes was a past issue in many states, not a new creation of the amended bill.
"Neither registration nor the number of employment days has been reduced; instead, 25 additional days have been added," he asserted, framing the amendments as progressive. He concluded that the opposition to this bill is driven purely by political motives rather than substantive concerns.
The Ideological Clash: Gandhi and Ram
Bommai also countered the Congress's claim that the G Ram G Bill undermines Mahatma Gandhi's ideology. He presented a philosophical argument, asserting that Gandhi's philosophy cannot be separated from the idea of Ram.
"Gandhiji spoke extensively about Ram Rajya and Gram Rajya. Separating Ram from Gandhiji amounts to a grave insult to Gandhiji himself," Bommai declared, linking the national figure's vision directly to the bill's contemporary objectives.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in the political rhetoric between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka, setting the stage for a fierce legislative and ideological battle in the state assembly.
