Why Yogi govt banned sale of halal-certified products

Halal-certified products are those believed to have met the requirements of Islamic law and are deemed suitable for consumption by Muslims.

Notably, the ban exempts halal-certified products intended for export, particularly to countries in the Middle East, where this certification is often a requirement.

The ban has invited flak from the Opposition. Congress state president Ajay Rai said the Yogi Adityanath government was “preoccupied with dividing the people to create differences among them as elections approached”. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand questioned the BJP government’s “double standards”, remarking: “Why have they exempted halal products from exports? If they are claiming that unrestrained propaganda has been on in the name of halal products, why not go for a complete ban?”

The state BJP welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi claiming that the government had been receiving many complaints about halal products.

Before the ban, the state police, on November 17, registered a case in Lucknow against entities such as Halal India Private Limited Chennai, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust Delhi, Halal Council of India Mumbai, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra and others for allegedly exploiting religious sentiments to boost sales by providing halal certificates to customers of a specific religion.

The UP government, in a statement, emphasised that stringent legal action would be taken against individuals or firms involved in any aspect of halal-certified products within the state, including medicines, medical devices and cosmetics.

The government’s decision has triggered a debate about religious preferences and business practices. While several Muslim groups advocate exclusive consumption of halal-certified products, some Hindu groups vehemently boycott such products. While some urge Hindus to refrain from consuming halal-certified items, others call for elimination of the certification process altogether.

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