Maharashtra’s Port Development Minister, Nitish Rane, has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. His latest initiative, the “Malhar Certification,” is a divisive political move.

Under this initiative, only Hindu butchers from the Khatik community will be allowed to sell meat certified as “jhatka,” a method of slaughter in which the animal is killed in a single strike. This not only alienates members of other castes and communities within Hinduism but also discriminates against other religions.

“The workers following the Hindutva ideology have come together to provide a good alternative to mutton for the Hindu community. For years, people have been forced to eat only Halal mutton, with no other option. Eating Halal is not part of the Hindu religion; it belongs to Islam. So if someone is offering a good alternative, I support them,” Mr. Rane said on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

He further encouraged Hindus to buy meat only from Malhar-certified shops, promoting divisiveness and undermining the cultural fabric of the state.