Karnataka CM says his govt will look into demand of banning ‘halal’ meat

Bengaluru : Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said his government will look into the issue of some groups calling upon Hindus not to buy “halal-cut” meat.

He said 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,” said Bommai on the objections on halal meat, in a press conference.

Halal meat adheres to the Islamic law, according to which slaughtering of animals or poultry involves killing through a cut windpipe, and leaders 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.

Replying to the concern over its impact on law and order, Bommai said: “We have ensured that harmony and law and order are not affected so far and we will ensure it in future as well.”

Responding to a query on 61 progressive writers and thinkers writing to him about the rising communal tension in Karnataka, Bommai: “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 said: “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,” said Kumaraswamy.

Defending the BJP colleagues on the issue, revenue minister R Ashoka intervend and said Muslims never buy meat which is not “halal-cut” and they should also be advised against descrimination.

Rural Development Minister Eshwarappa said one’s religion dictates what to eat and what not to eat and claimed no religion can impose its ideology on another religion.

Eshwarappa said, “The religion of an individual decides what to eat, what not to eat. None of the religions can impose its ideology on the other. In Halal, the life of a living being is taken slowly, it’s to give them pain in a slow order. But in Hinduism, life is taken at once [Snap the chicken’s neck in a single blow], without giving any pain to the living being. Muslims believe in halal, Hindus believe in jhatka. What is the confusion? If any religion is practicing their ideology, let them do it.”

Source : TOI