Right Wing group in K'tka urges Hindus to celebrate 'Halal Mukt Diwali'

Bengaluru: The Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti, a right-wing group, resumed their anti-Halal food campaign ahead of Diwali, urging Hindus to boycott goods and businesses that serve Halal meat.

The group held protests on October 18 outside restaurants like McDonald's and Pizza Hut in Bengaluru where Halal meat is served.

The News Minute quoted Mohan Gowda, Samiti's spokesperson for Karnataka, saying that it has sent a memorandum to the KFC and McDonald's management, asking them to prepare a separate menu for non-Halal foods for Hindus, who want meat prepared in the jhatka method.

He also said that Halal preparation is mandated only for Muslims and Hindus shall not be forced to eat Halal food. The international food serving chains were also given one-week time to begin serving non-Halal foods to Hindus, Gowda added.

In the memorandum, the right-wing group argued that restaurants are forced to maintain a Halal certificate apart from FSSAI and other recognised food certifications. The Halal certifications given to restaurants on payment of Rs 50,000 to 60,000 to Muslim organisations are illegal.

Though the anti-Halal campaign by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has been going on for a year, it has had little reception in the Hindu community in the state, and because of that, it has decided to intensify its campaign with several programmes. The Group is distributing pamphlets to warn Hindus against consuming Halal foods, demanding to make this festival a 'Halal Mukt Diwali.'

Ramesh Shindhe, the national spokesman for the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, published a book titled "Halal Jihad" on October 15 in Hubballi. Right-wing organisations have urged Hindus to celebrate a 'Halal Mukt Diwali.' Organisations like Bajrang Dal, Janajagruti Vedike, and Sri Ram Sene have also organised protests as part of this campaign in states like Maharashtra and Goa.