LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged people not to buy halal-certified products, saying the state had banned their sale. He alleged that the profits generated from the sale of such products were being used to fund terrorism, forced religious conversions, and what he described as “love jihad.”
Addressing the ‘Vichar-Parivar Kutumb Sneh Milan’ and ‘Deepotsav Se Rashtrotsav’ programmes in Gorakhpur to mark the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Adityanath said, “Whenever you buy something, make sure it doesn’t have the halal certification tag.”
The Chief Minister claimed that no one would be allowed to sell such products in Uttar Pradesh and that several items, including soaps, clothes, and matchsticks, now carried halal certification. He further claimed that around Rs 25,000 crore had been generated through halal certification despite the system lacking official recognition.
“All this money is misused in terrorism, love jihad, and conversions in India,” Adityanath alleged.
Referring to a recent police operation in Balrampur district, Adityanath said a self-styled godman, Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin Shah, had been arrested in July for allegedly running an illegal religious conversion racket. “Our team was keeping a watch on his activities for the last three years and I used to get an update on the intelligence collection every month… I had alerted the team to act when strong evidence was collected,” he said.
“Jalaluddin was involved in anti-social activities,” Adityanath said. The Chief Minister also claimed that the self-styled godman had received funds generated through halal certification.
Linking the issue to what he described as “political Islam,” Adityanath alleged that “such elements are working to divide the country.”
Adityanath further alleged that Chhangur Baba offered money to those undergoing religious conversion, with the amount varying by caste. “And where is the money coming from? You will not even know the source of the money. It is not coming from any other country. It is coming from you,” he said.
“When you buy something, make sure to check if it has the halal certification. We have banned it in Uttar Pradesh. You will be surprised — soap, clothes, and matchsticks are also certified as halal,” he added.
According to the Chief Minister, around Rs 25,000 crore was raised in the country in the name of halal certification without approval from the Centre or any state government. “All this money is misused for terrorism, love jihad, and religious conversion. That is why Uttar Pradesh has started a big campaign against it,” he said, urging people to check products before buying them. “Chhangur alias Jalaluddin was a sample. Such people may be hiding around you. Keep an eye on them,” he added.
A halal-certified product refers to an item or service that complies with Islamic law and is permissible for Muslims to use. In India, halal certification is provided by third-party organisations and is not mandatory.
During his address, Adityanath raised a point that “political Islam,” had dealt a significant blow to Sanatan Dharma but remained an under-discussed topic. Citing figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh, Maharana Pratap, and Maharana Sanga, he said, “Our ancestors waged major struggles against political Islam, yet this aspect of history remains largely overlooked.”
He added that while the nation often discussed resistance to colonial powers, it rarely addressed what he termed an ideological challenge. “Our ancestors fought not only against the British and the French but also against political Islam. Heroes like Veer Shivaji and Maharana Pratap stand testimony to this,” he said.
Adityanath also praised the RSS for its role in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and lauded the organisation for completing 100 years “despite challenges.” “While members of the Samajwadi Party, the Congress, and the INDIA bloc questioned the Ram Temple, RSS volunteers remained steadfast in their resolve that the temple would be built,” he said.
He added that the RSS was spearheading a campaign to unite people and raise awareness, calling it “praiseworthy.”
Criticising the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, Adityanath referred to SP president Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks about Ayodhya’s Deepotsav celebrations, saying that opposing the lighting of diyas during Diwali reflected “disrespect” towards the Ram Temple and Sanatan traditions. He said such remarks also disregarded the Prajapati (potter) community, which crafts diyas.
Branding the SP as “traitors to Ram, Krishna, and Sanatan festivals,” the Chief Minister reaffirmed that his government would continue to enhance the glory of Ayodhya, Mathura, and Vrindavan, the sacred centres of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
He further slammed the Congress, saying that the party had previously questioned the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, even filing an affidavit in court describing them as myths.
(With inputs from TNIE Online Desk)
