UP CM Adityanath rakes up 'halal' issue again; diversionary tactics, blames Congress

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath once again raked up the 'halal certification' issue, claiming without giving proof that profits from such sales were being used for religious conversion, love jihad and terrorism. 

Adityanath, known for delivering provocative speeches, asked people to 'check for halal certification on products before purchasing them, reiterating his government's stand against such certifications in the state.'

'Halal certification' is a process that verifies a product is permissible according to Islamic guidelines. In many speeches, right-wing politicians rake the issue to target Muslims. 

"You will be surprised that even soaps, clothes, and matchsticks have halal certification," the chief minister said, while speaking at the 'Vichar-Parivar Kutumb Sneh Milan' and 'Deepotsav Se Rashtrotsav' programmes organised in Gorakhpur.

Reacting sharply to Adityanath's remarks, UP Congress president Ajay Rai accused the BJP government of diverting public attention from key economic and employment issues. "This government is quite brilliant in diverting attention from real issues. Why is the CM so focused on such matters?" Rai said

"We demand that the government release data on the investments that have come to UP since 2017 and the kind of employment generated. Instead of addressing these, the CM prefers to talk about halal certification," he added.

All India Muslim Jama'at president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi backed CM Adityanath's remarks, saying that the practice of issuing halal certificates "is completely wrong in the light of Sharia." 

However, Razvi added that he disagreed with the suggestion that the funds collected through halal certification were being used to finance terrorism.

The recent CM's remarks have reignited debate over the state's previous decision to prohibit halal-certified food products.