Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh has urged Hindus to opt for 'jhatka' meat instead of halal meat. Jhatka involves a single blade strike during animal sacrifice, aligning with Hindu traditions.
"Sanatana Dharma has had 'bali pratha' (animal sacrifice) for ages. If Bakri Eid is in their religion, then Bali Pratha is in our religion. I have said that I respect my Muslim brothers.They are so committed to their religion that they only consume halal meat. To protect and respect your religion, I request that my Hindu brothers stop consuming halal meat and instead only consume jhatka meat. If you don’t get it, don’t eat, no matter how long you don’t get it, " he told news agency ANI on Monday.
Earlier on Sunday, in his Begusarai parliamentary constituency, the senior BJP leader passionately urged followers to uphold their 'dharma' by abstaining from halal meat consumption.
Singh expressed admiration for Muslims adhering strictly to their religious tradition of consuming halal meat and suggested that Hindus should similarly dedicate themselves to their customs. Emphasizing the importance of religious purity, he highlighted the Hindu method of slaughter as jhatka, urging followers to consistently adhere to it.
"I admire the Muslims who make it a point to consume only halal meat. Now Hindus should demonstrate a similar commitment to their own religious traditions," he said.
"The Hindu way of slaughter is jhatka. Whenever Hindus perform 'bali' (animal sacrifice), they do so in a single stroke. As such, they must not corrupt themselves by eating halal meat. They must always stick to jhatka," he added.
The Union Minister underscored the need for a new business model, advocating for exclusive abattoirs and stores selling jhatka meat. Weeks earlier, Singh had written to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging a ban on the sale of food items labelled as "halal," drawing inspiration from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath administration's actions.
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