With the upcoming Indian parliamentary election on the horizon, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh appears to be adopting a divisive strategy reminiscent of its approach in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections.
Critics argue that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s policies are designed to “other and discipline” the state’s 19% Muslim population, aiming to consolidate Hindu votes, although Muslim votes have historically had minimal impact on election outcomes.
On November 18, Anita Singh, Commissioner of Food Safety and Additional Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, issued a notification declaring the labeling of various products such as dairy items, bakery goods, oil, snacks, edible oil, medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics as “halal” to be an offense under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The notification banned the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified products, citing that halal certification creates confusion and is against the law, potentially misleading consumers.
The Commissioner emphasized that only the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had the authority to issue certificates, while exempting products meant for export.
This move came shortly after a member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha lodged an FIR against several agencies issuing halal certificates, alleging criminal conspiracy, extortion, cheating, forgery, promoting enmity between groups, and intending to wound religious feelings.
The term “halal” refers to acts or objects permissible in Islam, and the global halal economy was valued at $3.2 trillion in 2024. In India, only two bodies, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the Halal Shariat Islamic Law Board, are registered to certify halal products with the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies.
Following the notification, officials directed retailers across the state to remove halal-certified items from their shelves within 15 days.
As many as 92 manufacturers allegedly using endorsements from non-certified organizations were instructed to withdraw their products, raising concerns among Muslims about potential impacts on halal meat shops.
Critics view this move as part of the BJP’s cultural-nationalist politics, aiming to marginalize and demonize Muslims by associating their cultural and religious practices with being anti-national.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust, targeted in the FIR, strongly refuted the allegations, emphasizing transparency in financial transactions and the legal measures they would take against misinformation.
In response to the controversy, experts argue that the ban on halal certification may not only have economic repercussions but also aligns with a broader strategy of cultural and religious polarization pursued by the BJP-RSS alliance.
