Giriraj Singh wants Hindus to only eat jhatka meat: Logic behind minister's demand, and why there's a controversy

India primarily exports meat to West Asia, where halal certification is mandatory.

Union Textile Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh has urged Hindus to avoid Halal meat and instead consume Jhatka meat “to protect Sanatana Dharma”.

Video clips of Singh making these comments during his recent visit to a meat shop, Jhatkaz, in Bihar’s Madhubani district, have surfaced online.

He also thanked the Muslim community for not eating Jhatka meat. “I want to thank Muslims for not eating Jhatka meat. Even your close friends who is Muslim, if they visit your house they will not consume Jhatka meat. I respect Muslims because they are committed towards their religion. In their entire life, they survive as Muslims. When they die, they are buried separately as per their beliefs,” Singh said.

What is halal meat?

Halal meat is a key element of Islamic dietary laws. The Arabic word halal means permissible. The rules cover not only the types of animal that can be consumed by Muslims but also the way in which those animals are killed. The method involves the animal to be alive and healthy. A Muslim has to perform the slaughter by cutting the animal's throat with a sharp knife severing the carotid artery, jugular vein and windpipe in a single swipe. Blood must be drained out of the carcass.

Before any slaughter, the God’s name must be in a one-line blessing called the Tasmiyah. Reciting a short blessing beginning with “bismillah” (in the name of Allah) is a prerequisite for Muslims before killing the animal.

Difference between halal and jhatka meat

The term Jhatka, in Hindi means swift. In this process, the animal’s head is severed in one single blow, and it dies instantly.

Health experts say halal is healthier as after slaughter, blood is drained from the arteries, rejecting most toxins because the heart continues to pump for a few seconds after the animal is slaughtered.

It is believed that the less an animal struggles, the better the meat. When animals face trauma, the glycogen content in the muscles is activated and it makes the meat tough. According to Times Food, to keep the meat tender and juicy, the pH count in the animal should ideally be around 5.4 after slaughter. In jhatka, it goes up to as high as 7 while in Halal the struggle is lesser by at least 20 per cent.

Not the first time

This is not the first time that Singh has raised the issue. In 2023, Singh wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying halal business is a "treason" in a secular democracy like India. He also sought a ban on production, storage, distribution and sale of food products with halal certification in Bihar like in Uttar Pradesh.

A meat shop in Bihar's Begusarai has been named after Singh. It is called ‘Giriraj Amar Jhatka Meat’.

Opposition slams Singh

The RJD said Singh should focus on his department instead of lecturing people on their food habits.

“The Union Minister of Textiles is not honest towards his own department and responsibilities. He has never talked about providing jobs and employment through his department. He only talks about religion,” said Ejaz Ahmad, spokesperson of the RJD.

Ahmad also said the Constitution allows people to eat and drink as per their own choice.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also condemned Singh, “Those who are responsible for the ‘fabric’ are the ones busy spoiling the fabric itself. Tormented by tariffs, their own textile ministry can’t get its act together, and they’re distributing consultations across the country. Utterly reprehensible,” Yadav told The Hindu.

Halal meat market in India

India primarily exports meat to West Asia, where halal certification is mandatory. The global halal food market was $1.97 trillion in 2021 and is projected to reach $3.9 trillion by 2027, according to Economic Times.

A report by Ken Research stated that the India halal food Market size was valued at $19 billion in 2023.

India’s halal meat exports are on a growth trajectory, backed by government support, regulatory compliance, and increasing global demand

The market size reached $285.3 Million in 2024, according to IMARC Group. It expects the market to reach $ 772.3 million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate of 10.60% during 2025-2033.