New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to forbid certain registered Muslim institutions from issuing Halal certificates has drawn harsh criticism from the influential All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Demanding immediate withdrawal of anti-constitutional and anti-national action, the Muslim Board asserts that the decision goes against national interests and interferes with religious freedom and matters of faith. It also urged the Yogi government to refrain from making everything a part of Hindu-Muslim hatred and social division.
In a statement to the media, Dr. Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, the spokesperson for the AllIndia Muslim Personal Law Board, said the Yogi government’s ban on Halal certification will negatively impact Indian exports to the Islamic world and other nations, which will not only hurt these businesses but also have a significant negative impact on India’s foreign exchange and economy. The interests of the country and the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom should take precedence over the political agendas of the Yogi and Modi governments, as well as their animosity toward Muslims and Hindus, he added.
Acting with alacrity on the complainant of Shailendra Kumar Sharma, ex-vice president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the Yogi government banned Halal certification and unleashed a crackdown on stores and businesses that have halal products in their showrooms.
Dr. Ilyas also underlined that Muslims are required to abide by the rules and regulations Islam has established regarding food and beverages. Other religions operate in a similar manner. When it comes to eating habits, Islamic principles are extremely clear. Certain things are categorically forbidden by Islam, known as haram, which Muslims must abstain from. The issue is not just with slaughter and non-slaughter; a lot of products, like alcohol and pork, contain ingredients that are prohibited in Islam and should be avoided by all Muslims. Meat, fat, etc. Just as Muslims have the terms halal and haram, similarly, Hindus have the terms shudhand ashudh and other terms in other religions.
According to him, all organizations operating in the halal certification sector are registered with the government, and obtaining this kind of certificate is now required by the Ministry of Commerce. A certificate certifying that a product satisfies the necessary requirements and standards to be classified as Halal is provided to the consumer. Although there isn’t a formal regulatory body in India for halal product certification, there are several halal certification organizations that offer halal certification to goods and restaurants. Their legitimacy stems from the fact that Muslim consumers and regulators in Islamic nations both recognize their brand. Nowadays, the movement of halal products and halal certificates is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world, particularly in Western countries. India exports meat to Middle Eastern countries that is certified as Halal slaughtered. Being Halal certified creates trust among Muslims around the world, including India, for Indian products. This contributes to an increase in exports and profits in business.
Dr. Ilyas went on to say that the Muslim Personal Law Board is demanding that the Yogi government immediately stop its anti-national and anti-constitutional actions and stop using everything as a means of inciting social division and Hindu-Muslim hatred.
It is to be noted that the halal trade is a substantial $3.5 trillion industry, and India gains from its export and tourism promotion, especially with trade partners in Southeast Asia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
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