The story so far: On November 18, the Uttar Pradesh Government’s Food Security and Drug Administration banned the “manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of halal-certified products with immediate effect”. Halal, an Arabic term, means ‘permissible’, as opposed to notions of haram (prohibited) in Islam. A halal certificate means the product is fit to be consumed by followers of the faith. It is particularly relevant for meat items and is considered essential while exporting meat to Muslim countries. Following the order, units of police raided various malls across U.P. to seize any halal products.
Why was it banned?
The quick action to raid malls followed a complaint lodged in Lucknow by an office bearer of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wherein the complainant accused several halal certifying outfits of issuing “forged” certificates to “increase their sale among a certain community”. They, in the process, violated “public trust” and created “social animosity”, it was alleged. Though many read in the government’s step, yet another action aimed at marginalising the State’s Muslim community, the government insisted it had acted according to the law and fair trade practices.
