Karnataka heading for tussle over anti-halal bill

The Karnataka assembly’s winter session is likely to witness a renewed faceoff between BJP and Congress over the government’s plan to introduce an anti-halal bill that will forbid halal meat in the state. BJP MLC N Ravikumar has taken the initiative to bring the bill that seeks to ban food certification by any institution other than the Food Safety and Security Association of India (FSSAI). The halal issue sparked unrest in Karnataka earlier this year after pro-Hindutva fringe elements called for a boycott of halal meat during the Ugadi festival. A section of BJP functionaries wants to give this legal sanctity by passing the bill.