Authorities in India’s most populous Indian state Uttar Pradesh have banned the distribution and sale of Halal-certified products. These include dairy products, garments and medicines. A notificaton from the state government proclaims that the halal certification of the products is illegal.
Uttar Pradesh, or UP as it is commonly called, is ruled by firebrand right-wing Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.
UP Govt. banned sale of Halal Certified products in the state.Several organisations issuing #HalalCertification for financial gains & exploiting religious sentiments of a particular community in country. We request Central Govt. to ban Halal in whole country.#Yogi_Against_Halal pic.twitter.com/iAwUxUFrBn
— Sunil Ghanwat (@SG_HJS) November 20, 2023
“Halal certification of food products is a parallel system which creates confusion regarding the quality of food items,” the notification said.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the country’s apex body in charge of determining standards for most food products sold in the country and determines the standards food products should meet, the notification said.
Officials have conducted inspections all around the state.
After the ban on Halal products by BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh Government,a team of Food Safety and Drug Administration officials conducted an inspection of food items at Sahara Mall.
Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh #HalalBanInUP | #HalalCertification | #India pic.twitter.com/gpGgRt1TW0— Mister J. – مسٹر جے (@Angryman_J) November 21, 2023
Campaigns have launched with the title #BycottHalalProducts.
Uttar Pradesh bans Halal certified products with immediate effect.
Production, storage, distribution, and sale of food products with the Halal certification has been forbidden with immediate effect.#HalalCertification #YogiAgainstHalal #HalalBanInUP pic.twitter.com/zAwWmMND95
— Virendra Verma (@Virendr39524371) November 20, 2023
Extremists from the right wing are appreciating the step as a way to curb “jihad”, alleging that it is funded by the sale of halal products.
Halal Money funds Jihad..period!!
On the #HalalCertification ban in UP, I applaud the decision by Yogiji and ask – What do the Muslims actually want? They want personal laws, Halal food, madarssas and then they complain about not being mainstream ♂️— Karan Verma (@KARAN_author) November 20, 2023
“Religion should not be brought into food. There were many items such as garments, sugar, etc which were being branded as Halal, which is against the law,” state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said on Monday.