Kolhapur - A shocking incident has come to light wherein 'Gokul' (Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union) milk union, which is the identity of Maharashtra, has obtained a 'Halal' certificate.

If this halal certificate is not revoked immediately, a massive public movement will be launched including a boycott of the products, and if required, a grand march will be taken out against 'Gokul', warned Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and other devout Hindu organisations.

Representatives of the organisations submitted a detailed statement regarding this demand to the administrative board of 'Gokul', Kolhapur District Collector Dr Vijay Rathod, and 'Jansurajya Shakti Party' MLA Ashok Mane.

In a secular country, the decision taken by disregarding government certificates, has hurt the sentiments of the majority Hindu consumers. A strong demand was made on this occasion that the administration should take immediate note of this and revoke this certificate. On this occasion, the activists burned a copy of the halal certificate of 'Gokul'.

Why the rush to sell products only to Muslim countries when Gokul has not yet reached all parts of India?

The Gokul administration claims that this certificate is mandatory for exporting products to Gulf countries. This justification is totally illogical. When there is a huge demand for Gokul milk domestically and within the State, and Gokul milk has not yet reached all parts of India, why is there a rush to sell Gokul products only to Muslim countries? Most importantly, when there are government authorized certificates from 'Food Safety and Standards Authority of India' (FSSAI) and 'Food and Drug Administration' (FDA) etc. are available, why is there a need to obtain a separate religious certificate? This is an insult to the secular Constitution and government institutions of the country. Since the Halal certificate is illegal, it has been banned in Uttar Pradesh.

A dangerous and parallel economy is being created in the country through the Halal certificate, and the organisation that issues this certificate, 'Jamiyat Ulema Hind', uses the money received from it to fight legal cases for Jihadi terrorists. Will the hard-earned money of Hindu consumers who drink Gokul milk be indirectly used for anti-national activities and for securing the release of terrorists? If this milk is 'Halal' certified, then why should the majority Hindus pay for it? Taking serious note of this national threat, this certificate should be immediately revoked, and a thorough investigation should be conducted into the then president and board of directors during whose tenure this decision was taken, the memorandum states.

Various devout Hindu organisations unite

Several office bearers of various organisations in Kolhapur had gathered to question the administration on this serious issue. On this occasion, the delegation included the founder of 'Maharaja Pratishthan', Mr Niranjan Shinde, District President of 'Namo Namo', Mr Vikram Singh Jarg, Social Activist Mr Shashi Bidkar, Mandir Mahasangh's Mr Ashok Gurav, 'Maratha Tituka Melvava's Mr Yogesh Kerkar, Bajrang Dal's Mr Pratik Kulkarni, City President of 'Hindu Ekta Andolan', Mr Gajanan Todkar, Shiv Sena's Deputy District Presidents Mr Uday Bhosale and Mr Kishore Ghatge, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti's Mr Shivanand Swami and Mrs Sadhana Godse, Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti's Mr Rambhau Methe and Mr Kiran Kulkarni, Karveer Taluka President of Shiv Sena (UBT) Mr Raju Yadav, Vice President of Hindu Mahasabha, Mr Vikas Jadhav, City President Mr Prashant Patil, Mr Shrikant Jadhav, Mr Shekhar Dhongde of 'Positive Watch', Mr Rajesh Waghmare of Human Rights Organisation, Devout Hindu activists Mr Suyog Kakatkar and Mr Babasaheb Bhopale of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad etc. came together and presented this strong stand.