Hyderabad, July 31: Rakshit Sagar Rachakonda, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and self-proclaimed RSS member, has ignited controversy by displaying posters in several temples across Hyderabad, urging people to boycott halal products, reported The Times of India. The posters, put up under the banner of Shri Kesri Hanuman Yuva Sangathan, read, “Dear Hindus, Say No to Halal Products.”
Rachakonda took to social media platform X on Saturday to announce the installation of these posters in the Karwan and Jiyaguda areas of Hyderabad. In his post, he called on Hindus to refrain from using halal products, particularly during festivals. “Jai Mata Di Installed Say No to Halal Banners at various temples in Karwan and Jiyaguda area of Bhagyanagar. Appeal to my Hindu bandhus to boycott HALAL and its products at least during our festivals,” Rachakonda wrote.
The campaign against halal products is not an isolated incident. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP-led government had previously banned the certification of halal products and taken action against organizations issuing halal certificates. This led to the arrest of several Muslim leaders and organizations.
In February, the Supreme Court intervened, ordering that no coercive actions be taken against Halal India Limited and Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra, both of which were involved in a criminal case related to the halal certification ban. The November 2023 ban on halal-certified products in Uttar Pradesh had been challenged by Halal India Limited and Jamiat Ulama-i-Maharashtra, the state branch of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.
The targeting of halal products by Hindutva groups and leaders has been a recurring issue, with similar campaigns emerging in various states. The recent anti-halal campaign in Hyderabad represents a new chapter in this ongoing communal effort, extending now to Telangana.
Local communities and leaders have expressed concern over the communal tensions such campaigns may incite. Critics argue that such actions not only harm the social fabric but also disrupt the economic activities of those involved in the halal food industry.
As this issue continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how authorities and community leaders will address the rising tensions and calls for communal harmony amidst these divisive campaigns.
