India

Govt will look into demand of banning halal meat, says Karnataka CM

A file photo of meat shop.

Karnataka: Days after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician CT Ravi gave a call for boycotting Halal meat as he described it as an ‘economic jihad, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said his government will look into the issue of some rightist groups calling upon Hindus not to buy “halal-cut” meat.

According to reports quoting the CM, serious objections have been raised over the “halal-cut” meat and the government wants to look into the issue in entirety before taking a stand on it.

Seeking to clarify his government’s position on ideological issues, the chief minister said there are only wings of growth in the government and there is no right-wing or left-wing.

“It has just now started and we need to study it in its entirety. It has nothing to do with rules or anything of that sort. It is only a practice going on. Now some serious objections have been raised on this and we will look into it,” Times of India quoted Bommai saying on the objections on halal meat, in a press conference.

Halal meat adheres to Islamic law, according to which slaughtering of animals or poultry involves killing through a cut windpipe, and members from some right wing groups and BJP functionaries including the party national general secretary CT Ravi have asked Hindus to ban the halal-cut meat.

The clarion call comes ahead of the Ugadi when people feast on meat the next day of festival creating ripples amid the row over various issues hijab issue and banning Muslim traders in temple fairs, the report said.

“We have ensured that harmony and law and order are not affected so far and we will ensure it in future as well,” Bommai said while replying to question regarding law and order.

Responding to a query on 61 progressive writers and thinkers writing to him about the rising communal tension in Karnataka, Bommai said: “We will study the content of the letter and we will decide on how to address the issues they have raised.”

On the growing trend of right wing organisations taking the centre stage, he was quoted saying: “As far as my government is concerned, there are only the wings of growth. There is no right wing or left in the spectrum. We are interested in ensuring peace, development and security for the common man.”

Later in the day, former chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy raised the issue in the legislative assembly as he took part in a debate on electoral reforms.

“After the row over students wearing Hijab in classrooms and banning Muslim traders in temple fiars, the public discourse is now on halal meat. The miscreants who want to disturb the communal harmony have brought this to the fore and circulating whatsapp messages on banning halal meat during Ugadi celebrations. The media should not highlight this and people should not heed to such messages,” TOI quoted Kumaraswamy as saying.

Defending the BJP colleagues on the issue, revenue minister R Ashoka intervened and said Muslims never buy meat that is not “halal-cut” and they should also be advised against discrimination. Former Speaker and congress member KR Ramesh Kumar said it is an age-old practice of Muslims to adhere to halal food and one should make an issue out of it for electoral gains.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party politician CT Ravi gave a call for boycotting Halal meat as he described it as an ‘economic jihad’.

Ravi, the party’s national general secretary, said that the Halal meat offered to ‘their God’ is dear to them (Muslims) but for Hindus, it is somebody’s leftover.

He also said that Halal has been designed in a planned way so that the products should be purchased only from Muslims and not others.

“Halal is an economic Jihad. It means that it is used like a Jihad so that Muslims should not do business with others. It has been imposed. When they think that Halal meat should be used, what is wrong in saying that it should not be used?” he said.

“When Muslims refuse to buy meat from Hindus, why should you insist on Hindus to buy from them? What right do people have to even ask this?” Ravi sought to know.

To a query about boycotting Halal meat, he said that such trade practices are not one-way traffic but two-way. “If Muslims agree to eat non-Halal meat, then these people (Hindus) will also use Halal meat.”

 

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