Hyderabad, December 22: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir welcomed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s announcement that the State would soon introduce a dedicated legislation to curb hate speech and penalise those who insult members of other religions, describing the move as a decisive step to protect constitutional values and social harmony.
Shabbir Ali, in a media statement on Monday, said the proposed law reflected the Congress government’s intent to strike a careful balance between freedom of expression and the constitutional obligation of the State to maintain public order and fraternity. He observed that while free speech is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) in the interest of public order, morality, and the sovereignty and integrity of India.
According to Shabbir Ali, the increasing misuse of religious identity and provocative language in public discourse posed a serious challenge to social cohesion. He said a clear and well-defined legal framework was necessary to prevent the deliberate targeting of communities through inflammatory speech that could lead to unrest, discrimination, or violence.
The Advisor noted that the Constitution also guarantees freedom of religion under Articles 25 to 28, and any attempt to insult or vilify religious beliefs undermines these guarantees. He added that the proposed law would reinforce the spirit of Article 51A, which places a fundamental duty on citizens to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all people of India.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s statement that the Bill would be tabled in the Assembly shortly, Shabbir Ali said Telangana was responding to a real and contemporary challenge rather than acting out of political expediency. He pointed out that the State government had, over the last two years, taken firm administrative action against attempts to provoke communal tensions, and the proposed legislation would provide stronger legal backing to such efforts.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had earlier said that Telangana would draw from legislative precedents in other States, including Karnataka, while framing a law suited to the State’s social realities. The Chief Minister clarified that the objective of the legislation was not to suppress dissent or legitimate criticism, but to prevent the intentional use of speech to insult religions, spread hatred, or incite hostility between communities.
Shabbir Ali said concerns raised by opposition parties about possible misuse of the law should be addressed through legislative debate and safeguards, rather than by opposing the very idea of regulation. He stressed that the Constitution does not protect speech that seeks to destroy the constitutional promise of equality, dignity, and fraternity.
The Advisor further argued that the proposed law would strengthen public confidence, particularly among minorities and vulnerable sections, by assuring them that the State would act decisively against hate-driven narratives. He said such confidence was essential for sustaining democratic participation and trust in governance.
Shabbir Ali expressed confidence that the Telangana Assembly would deliberate responsibly on the proposed Bill and ensure that the final legislation was precise, proportionate, and constitutionally sound. He added that the law, once enacted, would reaffirm Telangana’s commitment to secular governance and send a clear message that freedom of expression cannot be misused as a licence to spread hatred or intolerance. (eom)