Mumbai (Maharashtra): Rais Shaikh, a corporator from Mumbai, who represents the Samajwadi Party, wrote a letter on Saturday to the city’s Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) stating that a signboard should be placed at restaurants suggesting whether the meat sold at that particular eating joint is “halal” or “jhatka”.
Shaikh, in his letter, said that he had no issues whether meat is sold at the restaurant or not, or whether the meat sold is ‘halal’ or ‘jhatka’ but only wanted to know if the meat being sold is ‘halal’ or not. He underlined that it is mandatory in Islam to consume ‘halal’ food.
‘Halal’ means “permissible” in Arabic. Food items made from ‘halal’ meat are certified to be permissible for Muslims to eat.
However, the corporator asserted that it is “unislamic act” to consume something that is not ‘halal’ and therefore, it is inconvenient for families to visit a restaurant and later come to know that non-vegetarian items sold are not ‘halal’.
Shaikh further urged the authorities to take cognisance of the matter and implement the step for the convenience of the Muslim population in Mumbai.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]