NEW DELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation, led by BJP, plans to make it mandatory for restaurants and butchers in its jurisdiction to prominently display whether the meat they serve is halal or jhatka. To a large extent, the proposal states that the consumption of halal meat is “prohibited and against religion in Hinduism and Sikhism.” The civic body’s standing committee approved the proposal on Thursday. Now he will go to the house where BJP has a majority.
The chairman of the standing committee, Rajdutt Gahlot, argued that the goal is to inform the consumer about the type of meat being served, so that they can make an informed decision. “Right now, we have a situation where a license has been issued for one type of meat while another is being sold,” he added.
The resolution, proposed by Chhattarpur Councilor Anita Tanwar, was presented by the Medical Assistance and Public Health Panel on November 9, 2020.
‘There is no intention to stop any form of meat’
The resolution states that “thousands of restaurants are operating in 104 four-zone districts that fall under SDMC and meat is served in 90% of restaurants, but they do not show whether … (is) halal or jhatka.” A similar situation prevailed in the butcher shops, he adds.
The resolution observes: “According to Hinduism and Sikhism, eating halal meat is prohibited and contrary to religion … Therefore, the committee resolves that this address be given to restaurants and meat shops that it must be written about the meat that is sold and served by them … that halal or jhatka meat is available here. ”
Most consumers don’t bother to find out in a restaurant whether the meat is halal or jhatka. A civic body can request a statement for consumers to make an informed decision, but the invocation of religion in the proposal makes it prescriptive and presumptive.
Tanwar said the intention behind the move was not to prevent anyone from eating a form of meat. “It is not about forbidding one form or another of meat. The change is respecting religious feelings. Everyone is free to eat whatever type of meat they want. Hindus do not like to eat halal meat. If we put a table in each restaurant, people will know what kind of meat is being served to them, “he added.
All restaurants must obtain an annual health business license from the corporation, and councilors want the condition to be part of that process.
There are more than 2,000 restaurants in South Delhi. An SDMC official said that if the proposal passes, enforcement may be difficult as restaurants will be reluctant to adopt it. “If they mention a type of meat, some people may avoid it. Who would want to lose business? ” I ask.
In recent years, civic bodies have become obsessed with meat proposals. A few months ago, the eastern corporation had passed a resolution stating that meat stores should not be allowed among the 24 businesses allowed on residential lanes in the new DDA master plan. In August 2018, it had approved a similar proposal to make halal-jhatka meetings mandatory.
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