Jammu-based Hindu group seeks ban on halal certification, says ‘restrict it to willing population, essential items only’

A Hindu group, Jan Jagran Manch, staged a street protest in Jammu on Saturday (October 3, 2026) against the halal certification of products in J&K and demanded a blanket ban on such brands as in Uttar Pradesh.

“Hindus neither need nor are interested in halal products. Our protest is to raise public awareness about how halal certification has been an attack on the livelihood of Hindus and Sikhs. Like Uttar Pradesh, there should be a complete ban on halal certification except for export purposes,” the Mancha leader said while talking to the press in Jammu.

He said the Manch was in favor of halal certification being “restricted only to willing populations or essential items”. It asked the government to take over the certification process of all products and strictly regulate and monitor them through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and not private institutions. “We are not sure where the money earned through halal certification goes,” the leader added.

Manch argued that halal certification is no longer limited to meat. “Cement, iron, hotels, tourism and medicine are subject to halal certification. Private (Muslim) organizations collect crores of rupees annually in the name of certification and renewal fees without being transparent about tracking or use of funds,” the Manch leader said.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 02:35 IST