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BENGALURU: The Karnataka assembly’s winter session in Belagavi from Monday 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 seeking to ban food certification by any body other than FSSAI. The halal issue had sparked unrest in March this year after Hindutva fringe elements called for a boycott of halal meat during the Ugadi festival. A section of BJP wants to give this legal sanctity by passing the bill.
Ravikumar had planned to introduce it as a private bill and had written to governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. However, he is now seeking to table it as a government bill.
BJP is planning to bring an anti-halal meat legislation in the Karnataka assembly, setting the stage for another political confrontation in the poll-bound state. BJP MLC N Ravikumar had planned to bring it as a private bill but now the party leadership reportedly prefers it to be its official legislation.
Ravikumar will meet CM Basavaraj Bommai Monday. “Some unauthorised institutions are indulging in certifying food products and, hence, controlling the market illegally. With an intent to curb this, the bill will certainly help in the process,” he said.
The move is set to trigger a war of words between the treasury and opposition benches in the assembly. Congress had locked horns with BJP over the anti-conversion bill during the previous Belagavi session and similar scenes are expected this time too.
“We will urge the council chairman not to approve the private bill on halal,” said B K Hariprasad, leader of opposition in the council.
In the assembly too, Congress is ready to oppose the bill. “We understand BJP’s strategy. It wants to divert public attention from its failure, corruption and issues like voter data theft. The anti-halal bill is aimed at polarising voters based on communal lines ahead of the assembly polls,” said U T Khadar, Congress deputy leader in the assembly. Elections are due in the state next summer.
Besides, the government is proposing to bring in 14 bills, including ones envisaging enhancing the quantum of quota for SC/STs and seeking reservation for Kannadigas in the private sector.
“The cabinet is yet to approve some of the bills. We will get all the proposed bills in this session,” said JC Madhuswamy, minister for law and parliamentary affairs. The session will see elections to the posts of chairman and deputy chairman of the council and deputy speaker of assembly.
BJP MLC N Ravikumar has taken the initiative to bring the bill seeking to ban food certification by any body other than FSSAI. The halal issue had sparked unrest in March this year after Hindutva fringe elements called for a boycott of halal meat during the Ugadi festival. A section of BJP wants to give this legal sanctity by passing the bill.
Ravikumar had planned to introduce it as a private bill and had written to governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. However, he is now seeking to table it as a government bill.
BJP is planning to bring an anti-halal meat legislation in the Karnataka assembly, setting the stage for another political confrontation in the poll-bound state. BJP MLC N Ravikumar had planned to bring it as a private bill but now the party leadership reportedly prefers it to be its official legislation.
Ravikumar will meet CM Basavaraj Bommai Monday. “Some unauthorised institutions are indulging in certifying food products and, hence, controlling the market illegally. With an intent to curb this, the bill will certainly help in the process,” he said.
The move is set to trigger a war of words between the treasury and opposition benches in the assembly. Congress had locked horns with BJP over the anti-conversion bill during the previous Belagavi session and similar scenes are expected this time too.
“We will urge the council chairman not to approve the private bill on halal,” said B K Hariprasad, leader of opposition in the council.
In the assembly too, Congress is ready to oppose the bill. “We understand BJP’s strategy. It wants to divert public attention from its failure, corruption and issues like voter data theft. The anti-halal bill is aimed at polarising voters based on communal lines ahead of the assembly polls,” said U T Khadar, Congress deputy leader in the assembly. Elections are due in the state next summer.
Besides, the government is proposing to bring in 14 bills, including ones envisaging enhancing the quantum of quota for SC/STs and seeking reservation for Kannadigas in the private sector.
“The cabinet is yet to approve some of the bills. We will get all the proposed bills in this session,” said JC Madhuswamy, minister for law and parliamentary affairs. The session will see elections to the posts of chairman and deputy chairman of the council and deputy speaker of assembly.
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