The debate over meat certification and slaughter methods has intensified in Maharashtra, with BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay extending his support to state minister Nitesh Rane’s recent statement advocating for Hindus to buy jhatka mutton from shops with Malhar certification.
Speaking on the issue, Sanjay Upadhyay said, “I don’t have any issues regarding who is eating what, but if someone is being fed something in a wrong way, then it should be objected to. The chemicals that are produced during ‘Halal’ are harmful to our body. I support Nitesh Rane in this case. Chicken and mutton shops should have a proper license.”
The remarks come in the backdrop of growing discussions around halal and jhatka meat in Maharashtra, with some groups calling for stricter regulations and labeling practices for meat shops. Nitesh Rane had earlier suggested that Hindus should opt for Malhar-certified meat to ensure that they consume jhatka meat, a practice followed in some communities where the animal is killed instantly rather than through slow bleeding, as in the halal method.
The debate has sparked reactions from various quarters, with supporters of halal meat defending the practice as religious and cultural, while others argue for greater transparency in meat labeling. The Maharashtra government has yet to take an official stand on the matter, but with political voices amplifying the discussion, the issue is likely to gain more traction in the coming days.
