Ramchander Rao Slams Telangana Hate Speech Bill
The Bill is designed solely to target the BJP and its leaders. The Karnataka government did the same thing, only to suppress, oppress, and harass BJP workers: BJP
HYDERABAD: BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday accused the Congress of “crushing democracy, dissent and debate with one stroke” by introducing the Hate Speech Bill in the Assembly, which was later referred to the Select Committee after strong opposition.
In a statement, Rao said the Congress has a history of curbing freedom of speech, citing Nehru’s first amendment, Indira Gandhi’s Emergency and the UPA’s Section 66A. “Through this bill, the Hindu voice, already pushed into a defensive corner by decades of pseudo-secularism, becomes even easier to police and prosecute. The BJP will fight resolutely against such actions for the protection of democracy,” he declared.
Separately, Rao demanded that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy immediately release Central funds to Gram Panchayats without diversion and clear pending dues to sarpanchs. Speaking after meeting representatives of the Joint Action Committee of the Telangana State Sarpanchs’ Association, he alleged that the state government diverted about ₹640 crore released under the 15th Finance Commission, leading to severe crises at the village level.
He said many sarpanchs were unable to pay for completed works and some even resorted to suicide during the previous BRS regime. With new sarpanchs taking charge and the 16th Finance Commission approaching, Rao pledged BJP’s full support to the association’s movement for immediate release of funds.
