Mumbai: In response to the rising tide of hate crimes and communal violence, Samajwadi Party (SP) Maharashtra president and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has submitted a private member bill titled “The Prevention of Hatred and Insult to Religion Act, 2025” to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on June 17, as per a report by the Siasat.
The proposed legislation aims to curb the surge in hate speech—particularly on social media—that incites religious disharmony.The bill prescribes stringent punishments, including imprisonment ranging from 7 years to life, along with fines up to ₹2 lakh, for those found guilty of spreading hate against any religion, its scriptures, symbols, places of worship, or revered figures.
Azmi emphasized that the bill is rooted in constitutional values of secularism and equality. “This bill is meant to safeguard the holiness of every religion and the dignity of their scriptures,” he said in an Instagram post. “SP has a clear message—there is no place in the state for those who spread religious hatred.”
The timing of the bill is significant. On June 12, a 24-year-old Muslim youth was lynched in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar over alleged objectionable social media posts. The victim’s family refused to allow the post-mortem until all accused were arrested. It was only after AIMIM’s Maharashtra president Imtiyaz Jaleel intervened that the process moved forward.
Speaking to Siasat.com, Azmi stated, “There are so many incidents of communal clashes and killings coming out from all over India. Whether it’s someone disrespecting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or making vile comments about Babasaheb Ambedkar, the root cause is hate speech.”
Azmi also criticized the perceived double standards in law enforcement, pointing to the lack of outrage when roads are blocked during Hindu festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, while Muslims offering namaz outside mosques are often vilified. “Does our Constitution not guarantee equal rights for all faiths?” he asked.
The bill’s preamble sets a tone of unity and peace: “With a view to ensuring that the people of the state live in harmony, rights are preserved, and to prevent the spreading of enmity, hatred, and ill will in society, it is hereby enacted in the 76th Republic of India.”
The bill is expected to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. If passed, it would mark a significant legal milestone in the fight against religious hate speech in India.
