Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath used the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s centenary celebration to launch a sharp attack on what he called “Political Islam,” saying it has caused the deepest wounds to Sanatan Dharma and India’s cultural fabric. He said the impact was more damaging than the centuries of colonial rule India experienced.
Addressing RSS members and followers in Gorakhpur, Adityanath alleged that the halal certification system was being “deliberately misused to fund terrorism, religious conversion and love jihad.” He urged people not to purchase any product carrying a halal mark and claimed that nearly ₹25,000 crore had been collected through such certifications without any legal recognition.
RSS Event Context
The Chief Minister praised the RSS for a century of cultural service and credited its volunteers for the Ram Mandir movement and nation-building initiatives. He said the organisation had stood firm for Bharatiya values even when facing criticism or restrictions.
He called on citizens to stay alert against economic systems that, he said, “operate under the guise of religious identity.” Adityanath asserted that parallel certification networks create financial channels outside the country’s legal framework.
Policy and Political Reaction
The state government recently announced restrictions on the manufacture and sale of halal-certified goods inside Uttar Pradesh. Departments have been directed to verify product labels and supply chains for compliance.
While the speech received applause from RSS members, opposition leaders criticised the remarks, saying they could deepen social polarisation. Adityanath rejected the accusation, saying his stand was “cultural and national, not political.” He added that citizens should be mindful of where their money goes and how certain labels are used to influence markets.
Background
The halal issue has been in the spotlight across India since early October after several states received complaints about unauthorised certification bodies. The UP government has clarified that its restrictions apply to domestic sales, not exports requiring international labels.
Political analysts say Adityanath’s remarks reflect a broader emphasis on Hindu identity and economic self-reliance in UP’s policy discourse. The state has also been tightening oversight of private religious trusts and foreign donations linked to certification groups.