Seven members of the Bajrang Dal were arrested on Thursday after a chicken stall owner was attacked in Karnataka’s Shivamogga for allegedly selling ‘halal’ meat and not ‘jhatka’ on Wednesday.
Similar incidents were reported from parts of Karnataka ahead of the Ugadi festival, where Hindu right-wing organizations demanded a ban on halal meat, especially during and around Hindu festivals in the state.
‘Halal’ in Arabic is essentially permissible, following the Islamic form of slaughter of animals or poultry, which involves slitting the jugular vein, carotid artery and trachea to remove all blood from the carcass. However, other than meat, any food including vegetables and water is ‘halal’.
On Wednesday, fueling the controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the state government would look into the “serious objections” raised on halal meat, something right-wing groups have called for a boycott.
The chief minister also said that as far as his government is concerned, there are “only development wings”, and there is no right wing or leftist.
“This (halal issue) has just started. We have to study in totality, because it has nothing to do with any rule. This is a practice that was going on. Now serious objections have been raised about this. We will look into that,” Bommai said in response to a question on the government’s stand on the halal issue.
“We will tell our stand later. Different organizations may be doing their own campaigns, we know what to answer and what not. We will respond where needed. When asked to give clarity on the campaign to boycott Halal by Hindu organizations, he said, “When it is not required, we do not (answer).”
A day after Ugadi, when many communities in the state observe a non-vegetarian feast, some right-wing groups have called for a boycott of halal meat before ‘Varshadoku’. BJP’s national general secretary CT Ravi on Tuesday called eating halal even ‘economic jihad’.
Asked about such issues disturbing the cordial atmosphere in the state, the Chief Minister said, “Despite such things, we have seen that law and order and cordial atmosphere in the state has not deteriorated. We will take care of it in future also.”
To a question whether there is a tendency of involvement of right-wing organizations behind such issues, he said, “As far as my government is concerned, there are only wings of development. There is no right-wing or left-wing… our central idea.” There is peace, development and security for the common man.” About 61 progressive thinkers wrote to him with an appeal to investigate religious hatred in the state, Bommai said, “I will study the issues and content raised by him, and will look into the factual position on the ground. I raised by him I will look into the issues raised and take a decision on how to deal with it in the coming days.
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