KT Rama Rao slams hate speech bill as draconian

KT Rama Rao criticised the Telangana Hate Speech Bill, calling it vague and prone to misuse. He warned it could curb free speech and target dissent, and urged the government to reconsider the legislation citing constitutional and democratic concerns.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill introduced by the Congress government in the Assembly on Monday, terming it a draconian tool to curb free speech and target dissent. He raised serious constitutional, democratic and civil liberties concerns if the Bill becomes law.

“While preventing genuine hate speech and maintaining social harmony is an important responsibility of any government, the present framework appears dangerously broad, vague and open to misuse,” he observed.

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In a statement, Rama Rao argued that instead of protecting public order, the Bill risks becoming an instrument for selective action against opposition leaders, journalists and citizens critical of the government. He pointed out that the Bill defines hate speech using sweeping terms such as “promoting ill-will”, “distorting harmony” and “spreading false information”, which are subjective and lack clear legal boundaries.

“Such vague definitions make enforcement dependent on interpretation rather than evidence,” he said, cautioning that criticism of government policies could be branded as disharmony or fake news.

Citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India, the former Minister said only speech that incites violence or public disorder can be restricted. “Any law exceeding this threshold would face the risk of violating Article 19(1)(a) and being struck down,” he noted, adding that mere criticism, advocacy, satire or disagreement cannot be punished.

He also raised concerns over provisions allowing executive authorities to determine what constitutes fake news, which could weaken democratic accountability. “The government cannot be both a participant in public debate and the arbiter of truth,” he said.

Rama Rao also criticised the stringent penalties proposed under the Bill, including up to seven years of imprisonment for first-time offences and ten years for repeat violations. He warned that such provisions could have a chilling effect on free expression, discouraging journalists, students and citizens from voicing opinions and questioning the government.

Pointing out that existing Indian laws already address hate speech, incitement to violence, defamation and public disorder, he questioned the need for a parallel legal framework with expanded executive powers without adding safeguards. He urged the government to reconsider the legislation, warning of its potential misuse against critics and political opponents.