Hyderabad: BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Saturday said the select committee examining the proposed Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, has decided to seek the views of Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) before finalising its report.Addressing the media at the CLP office following the committee’s meeting, Ponnam Prabhakar, who is also the chairman of the committee, said members held detailed deliberations on incorporating constructive and progressive recommendations to ensure the proposed legislation sets a benchmark for future legislative practices.The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the assembly in March last. However, after several legislators raised objections during the debate, the House decided to refer the bill to a select committee for detailed scrutiny.Assembly speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar subsequently constituted the panel, naming BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar as its chairperson. The 13-member committee has representations from BRS, BJP, AIMIM and CPI in addition to Congress legislators.The minister emphasised that the committee aims to ensure the assembly remains free from hate speech and criminal rhetoric while safeguarding democratic values.He clarified that the proposed legislation would not curtail freedom of expression. Instead, the committee intends to “frame a law that is fair, inclusive, and free from discrimination based on caste, religion, region, or gender”.He said the committee would consider all suggestions and recommendations received from legislators and other stakeholders before submitting its final report. The minister added that every provision of the bill would be examined comprehensively with the objective of preparing legislation that could serve as a model for future generations.The committee also resolved to convene another meeting shortly to continue its deliberations before finalising its recommendations.
