Halal meat – is it economic Jihad? Before we answer this question, let’s understand what is halal meat and Jhatka meat.
Halal is an Arabic word that means “permissible”. When a goat or sheep or chicken is slaughtered in a particular method it is called as “Halal or Permissible” meat.
Difference between Halal meat and Regular meat
Halal Slaughter
Halal slaughter method involves two important things.
- When the life of sheep or chicken is ended for the purpose of eating, the name of God must be mentioned before the slaughter.
- The sheep or chicken must be slaughtered in a particular manner. In the halal slaughter, the jugular vein, windpipe and carotid artery of the sheep or chicken is cut, and all the blood of the animal is drained out completely.
Jhatka Slaughter
Jhatka means “instant”. In the “Jhatka” method of slaughtering, the goat or sheep or chicken is killed instantly with a single cut or stunting.
Halal slaughter vs regular slaughter (Jhatka)
A question like this should be looked at objectively and NOT emotionally. Let’s see what the experts have said.
Dr V K Modi, head of department of meat technology at the Central Food Technology Research Institute in Mysore, says:
The halal method is effective in draining out most of the blood from a slaughtered animal, which is vital if its meat is to be soft. “In jhatka, chances of blood clotting are higher. This could spoil the meat if it’s kept uncooked for a few days. It could also make the meat tougher to chew.
Times of India
Dr Karuna Chaturvedi, consultant nutritionist at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi says:
Halal is considered healthier because after slaughter, blood is drained from the animal’s arteries, ejecting most toxins because the heart continues to pump for a few seconds after slaughter. In jhatka, not all the blood is drained, leaving the meat tougher and drier.
Times of India
Is Halal slaughter cruel?
When the jugular vein, windpipe and the carotid artery are severed, the blood supply to the nerve in the brain is cut off. Due to this, the animal does not feel any pain. The animal may appear to struggle and kick but that’s due to the contraction and relaxation of muscles deficient in blood and it is not due to pain. French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fishing published a report that proves this point.
Another study done by Dr. Wilhelm Schulze, Director of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, found that there was no increase in the activity of the thermal pain stimuli during the halal slaughter.
Confused about ‘halal-jhatka’ Controversy?
Even if non-Muslims do not agree with the view of the experts quoted above, they always have the choice to opt for Jhatka meat. In fact, many in North India, especially in Punjab opt for Jhatka meat. We must note that there is NO law or rule that forces the restaurants and hotels to serve halal meat. When the restaurants are always free to serve Jhatka meat, why should non-Muslims have a problem?
Does Halal meat cause unemployment to Hindus?
Some allege that Halal meat is a form of “economic Jihad” as it restricts work opportunities for Hindus and other non-Muslims. There is not an inkling of truth in this. Meat shops are owned by both non-Muslims and Muslims. Non-vegetarian Hindus (75%) and other non-vegetarian non-Muslims (5%) are way more in numbers than Muslims (15%).
As we have already mentioned above, non-vegetarian Hindus (75%) can always buy Jhatka meat from the non-Muslim meat shops as none is forcing them to buy Halal meat. Since the consumer base of non-vegetarian Hindus (75%) is much bigger and they have the choice to buy Jhatka meat, it does not affect the work opportunity for Hindus and non-Muslims.
Even in Pharmaceutical products, personal care products, cosmetics etc. the non-Muslim consumer base (around 80%) is way bigger than the Muslims who are a mere 15%. If you run a cosmetics product company, whom will you listen to – 80% consumer base or 15% consumer base? Obviously, the 80% consumer base who are non-Muslims.
How can a 15% consumer base enforce its “Halal” ideology on the companies who want to cater to the majority (80%) consumer base?
It must now be clear to you that this propaganda of “economic jihad” through “Halal meat” is a lie.
We can make India a better country, if we focus on pressing issues like unemployment, poverty, education and status of health care.
Let’s all work together to make India a better country!
