Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane announced a new certification for mutton shops that would be run only by Hindus. Announcing the Malhar certification initiative, he urged people not to purchase mutton from “places where Malhar certification is not available”. The effort, he added, would make the youth of the Hindu community “financially empowered” and “no adulteration will be found in the mutton”.

The Malhar certification will be similar to the existing halal certification in India, where the animals are slaughtered according to the Islamic laws. The other process is “jhatka”, where the neck of an animal is severed with a single blow — as opposed to the halal process of draining the blood first.

Each side has traditionally claimed that its process is more humane. 

In a post on X, Mr Rane today said, “Through Malhar Certification, we will have access to our rightful mutton shops and there will be a 100 percent Hindu community and the person selling will also be a Hindu”.

https://t.co/QdlcTN1UL5)pic.twitter.com/hIbS1SG1Ia

— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) March 10, 2025

Describing the  launch as a “very important step for the Hindu community in Maharashtra’ he said, “I appeal to you to use Malhar certification as much as possible and in fact, not to buy mutton from places where Malhar certification is not available”.

Over the last few years, right-wing groups in several BJP-ruled states have started a campaign against halal meat.

The controversy started in Karnataka, where right-wing leaders called for the boycott of halal meat, labelling it an “economic jihad”. 

They claimed the halal process was discriminatory, since Hindus cannot be employed in the slaughter and packing chain. Besides domestic consumption, halal meat is also a huge industry in terms of exports, because Muslim nations insist on it.

Moreover, while the word halal is used mostly in the context of meat, its actual meaning is “permissible” under Islamic law. 

So vegetarian food or fish products or even pharma items that contain alcohol or pork (fat) or other items banned under Islam, are considered contaminated and not halal. This is why halal certification is also given to many such products, especially for exports.

The right wing has contended that it is essential to set up an alternate system for youths, and there have been demands for a jhatka certification authority from some quarters.