Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a ban has been imposed on the sale of Halal-certified products in the state, alleging that profits from Halal certification were being misused to fund religious conversions, "love jihad," and terrorism. Speaking on Tuesday at an event in Gorakhpur marking the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Adityanath warned consumers to be vigilant about Halal certification labels and vowed strict action against those exploiting Indian consumers under the guise of Halal.

“When purchasing any item, check if it has a Halal certification label. We have banned it in UP. Today, no one in Uttar Pradesh will dare to buy or sell it," the Chief Minister declared. He revealed that at the time the proceedings began, Halal certification generated approximately Rs 25,000 crore annually in India, yet no government agency officially recognised or regulated it.

He added, “All this money is misused for terrorism, love jihad, and religious conversions.”

Adityanath cited the arrest of a figure named Jalaluddin (Changur Baba) in Balrampur as an example of efforts to curb these activities, which he linked to what he termed "political Islam."

The Chief Minister further stressed that while India’s struggle against British and French colonialism is often highlighted, the ideological challenge posed by "political Islam" remains largely ignored in historical discourse. He pointed to revered warriors such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh, Maharana Pratap, and Maharana Sanga, who fought against political Islam in their times.

“Our ancestors waged major struggles against political Islam, yet this aspect of history remains largely overlooked,” Adityanath said during the 'Vichar-Parivar Kutumb Sneh Milan' and 'Deepotsav Se Rashtrotsav' programmes in Gorakhpur.

He lamented that while the nation discusses colonial resistance, it often overlooks this ideological threat, which he claimed inflicted a significant blow on the Sanatan Dharma.

Highlighting the 100-year journey of the RSS, the Chief Minister lauded the organisation for its pivotal role in the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He recalled how RSS volunteers faced restrictions, police lathi-charges, and bullets but remained steadfast, ultimately witnessing the "impossible" become reality with the magnificent Ram Temple standing today.

Adityanath also outlined five key transformations as part of the RSS centenary initiatives: social harmony, family values, environmental protection, self-reliance through indigenous goods, and civic responsibility, describing these as the foundation for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

“For a developed society and a developed nation, society must lead, and the government must follow,” he concluded.