Telangana plans new act to curb religious hatred, penalise insults to faiths

Hyderabad: After Karnataka, the Telangana State government has also decided to introduce a new act curbing religious hatred and penalising those who insult other faiths.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, speaking at a function organised for Christmas celebrations at LB Stadium, said, “The State government will introduce a new act in the Legislative Assembly curbing religious hatred. The act will also embed a clause of penalising those who insult other faiths.”

The CM emphasised the government’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy toward religious provocation. He stated that existing laws would also be amended to ensure more stringent punishment for offenders who abuse or incite violence against any religion.

Zero tolerance for religious hatred

“The State government treats all religions and communities equally,” CM Revanth declared.

“While everyone has the freedom to practice their faith, they also have a responsibility to respect others. We will bring a law to ensure that those who attempt to disrupt peace through religious insults face the full weight of the law.”

The Chief Minister noted that the government has already taken decisive action against recent attempts to incite communal tension, asserting that the state remains committed to maintaining a peaceful environment for all citizens.

Rights for minorities

Reaffirming his commitment to inclusive growth, the CM stated that minorities have a fundamental right to avail themselves of all government welfare schemes. Key highlights from his address regarding minority welfare included:

1. Resolution of pending issues: The government is actively working to resolve long-standing issues regarding graveyards and burial grounds for the Christian and Muslim communities.

2. Welfare access: Minorities are encouraged to utilise benefits such as Indiramma Houses, 200 units of free electricity and free travel for women on RTC buses.

3. Education and healthcare: The CM lauded the historical role of Christian missionaries in providing high-quality education and medical care to the poor, often reaching areas where state services were limited.

Vision for the future

The Chief Minister reiterated the state’s commitment to the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ vision document, aiming to make Telangana the top state in the country for development and social welfare.