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The BJP tops the list when it comes to having lawmakers who have cases registered against them for allegedly making hate speeches. As many as 10 MPs belonging to the BJP as well as 17 sitting MLAs from the party have declared cases related to hate speech against them.

An analysis of the affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs submitted before the Election Commission reveals that many of the current lawmakers actually have declared cases related to hate speech against themselves.

A total of 58 current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech, according to an analysis of the affidavits carried out by the Association for Democratic Reforms. There are 15 sitting Lok Sabha MPs who have cases of hate speech registered against them. None of the Rajya Sabha members have any such cases against them.

Of the Lok Sabha MPs who have cases of hate speech registered against them, ten are from the BJP, and one each from the AIUDF, TRS, PMK, AIMIM and SHS.

As many as 43 sitting MLAs have been booked for hate speech. Of them, 17 are from the BJP; five each are from the TRS and AIMIM; three are from the TDP; two each from the Congress and Trinamool Congress, JD(U) and SHS; one each from DMK, BSP and SP and two are independent MLAs.

Eleven of the MLAs are from Telangana, nine from Uttar Pradesh, four each from Bihar and Maharashtra, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, two each from Uttarakhand and West Bengal and one MLA each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

Leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM and Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF have declared cases related to hate speech against them.

Uma Bharti, Union minister for drinking water and sanitation, has declared cases related to hate speech.

Also, there are eight state ministers who have been booked in cases related to hate speech.

The Law Commission Report number 267 of March 2017 on hate speech states that 'hate speech' has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech.

The term has been used invariably to mean expressions that are abusive, insulting, intimidatory, harassing or which incites violence, hatred or discrimination against groups identified by characteristics such as one's race, religion, place of birth, residence, region, language, caste or community, sexual orientation or personal convictions.

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