Bengaluru, Mar 30 (IANS): After calls for ban on halal products in Karnataka grew, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the state government would spell out its stand after studying the issue.

In the latest campaign targeting Muslims, Hindu organisations and BJP leaders in the state have begun raising objections to sale of halal meat to Hindus. The development comes in the wake of the recent ban calls made by the right wing groups on Muslim shops and stalls at Hindu religious fairs and temple premises in the coastal regions of Karnataka.

Halal meat is prepared as per Muslim religious rites and all Muslims are supposed to consume only halal meat. With the meat and poultry sold in Muslim shops also prepared as per halal customs, right wing organisations are calling on Hindus to boycott such shops. They describe sale of halal meat to Hindus as a form of economic jihad.

"The issue has to be studied in its entirety," Bommai told media persons on Wednesday. The Chief Minister said that the state government will examine the serious objections raised in some quarters over the issue.

"There are no rules as such. It was a practice that was going on. Now, serious objections are raised. We will look into it," he said.

Bommai refused to be drawn into the controversial calls for boycott of halal meat, being raised by Hindu right wing groups in the state. Pointing out that similar campaigns have been organised. "We'll respond to those who need a response," he said.

Udupi BJP leaders call for boycotting Hindu hotels selling Halal meat, posters go viral on social media

BJP leaders of the district have now called for banning consumption of Halal meat. Posters containing such messages were shared by the Udupi district BJP president Suresh Nayak Kuilady on his Facebook account.

The posters questioned why Hindu hotels have boards claiming to have ‘Halal meat’? Halal is a tradition followed by Muslims. Let us boycott the Hindus who do business with ‘Halal’ board. If there is no difference between Hindus and Muslims in terms with Halal, we will not do business with such Hindus as well,” stated a poster posted by Udupi BJP President Kuilady Suresh Naik.

Uday Kumar Shetty, another BJP leader also called for the banning of consumption of Halal meat by Hindus. In a tweet he stated, "Halal is like a trap. This involves a conspiracy of snatching job from other communities.” He also called for boycotting hotels owned by Hindus which have put ‘Halal’ boards.

The posters have went gone on the social media. The Halal meat issue has already widespread in the state and various Hindu organisations and BJP leaders have called for boycotting Halal meat.

Demand for ban on halal products

Amid hijab row and call of ban on Muslim merchants in temple fairs, the right wing groups are now demanding ban on halal products in Karnataka. A social media campaign is going on to boycott purchase of meat from Muslim traders in the state.

Hindu Jagruthi Samithi, Srirama Sene, Bajarang Dal and other right wing groups have called for removal of halal certification from the sign boards of meat selling shops. They have also urged Hindus not to buy meat which is halal cut. Instead they have advised the Hindus to buy meat which is cut as per the Hindu traditional method called 'Jhatka'.

Pramod Muthalik, Founder of Sriram Sene on Wednesday said that halal cut meat should be boycotted in the state as well as the whole country. "The money given for halal products is used for anti-national activities. The money collected here will be used to bring out jailed criminals of terrorist organisations."

"One of the Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders got Rs 15 crore transferred to his account during the Shaheen bagh protest. Akbar and Aurangzeb (Muslim kings who ruled India) had taxed Hindus," he maintained.

Meanwhile, Hindu Jagruthi Samithi members have got sign boards which said 'halal cut available' removed from three shops in Vijayanagar of Bengaluru. At Nelamangala, in the outskirts of Bengaluru, banners have been put up to eat only at Hindu restaurants.

Hindu organisations are making appeals through videos and campaigns on social media. The videos are going viral.