The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed a bill aimed at preventing hate speech and hate crimes amid protests by the Opposition, The Hindu reported.

The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill was introduced in the Assembly by state Home Minister G Parameshwara. It covers hate speech in public view verbally, in print or online.

The bill proposes to make hate crime punishable with imprisonment of less than one year, which could be extended to seven years, along with a fine of Rs 50,000.

In case the offence is repeated, the punishment would not be less than two years, which may be extended to seven years, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Parameshwara said that the bill was necessitated in the wake of a direction by the Supreme Court in May, which stated that attempts to spread communal hatred and hate speech should be dealt with strongly, The New Indian Express reported.

The minister added that the proposed legislation could bring substantial changes and help in preventing the dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes.

R Ashoka, the leader of the Opposition, said that the bill violated the freedom of speech and the press. But nothing more could be expected from the ruling Congress that imposed Emergency in the country, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said.

All proposals in the bill were already part of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Ashoka said, adding that the goal of the draft legislation was to target the Opposition parties and the media, The New Indian Express reported.

The BJP leader said that the proposed law could be used as a weapon to settle political scores and warned the Congress that it could boomerang.

Subsequently, the BJP members demanded that the bill be referred to a committee for scrutiny but this was turned down by the speaker, The Hindu reported. State Law Minister HK Patil said that the bill had been passed and there was no chance to discuss it again.

Following this, the BJP members walked out of the Assembly.