Karnataka Hate Speech Bill: Sanju Varma Claims Bias, Bhavya Narasimhamurthy Cites Exemptions

In this India Today debate on the Karnataka Hate Speech Bill, BJP National Spokesperson Sanju Varma argues the legislation is a tool to 'snatch free speech' and target political opponents. She cites the arrests of social media users like Vinit Nayak to allege police bias and questions the Congress party's moral ground. Congress Spokesperson Bhavya Narasimhamurthy defends the bill, emphasizing it includes exemptions for 'bona fide artistic expressions' and aligns with Supreme Court definitions to curb 'injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity'. Political analyst Professor Sandeep Shastri warns that without addressing the root causes of hate, the law could become a 'football of political competition' rather than a genuine solution to the discourse of venom.