Karnataka plans to bring Bill to prohibit halal meat in state
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Bengaluru: The winter session of the Karnataka Assembly will see the BJP introducing an anti-halal bill that will ban halal meat in the state.
The bill, which is to be initiated by BJP MLC N Ravikumar, reportedly seeks to ban food certifications given except by FSSAI.
The Hindutva forces in the state called for a boycott of the halal meat during Ugadi festival in March this year.
A section of BJP wants to give this legal sanctity by passing the bill, The Times of India reported.
Ravikumar has planned it as private bill, rather than seek to table it as a government bill and he has reportedly written to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
The anti-halal bill is likely to flare up communal tension in the state where anti-hijab protests had snowballed into a major crisis earlier.
The bill against halal meat is largely seen as a red herring thrown in by the ruling BJP ahead of the poll.
"Some unauthorised institutions are indulging in certifying food products and, hence, controlling the market illegally. With an intent to curb this, the bill will certainly help in the process," Ravikumar reportedly said.
B K Hariprasad, leader of opposition in the council said the opposition would urge the council chairman not to approve the bill.