UP: RSS Affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch Urges Members to Cut Cakes Instead of Goats, Stokes Controversy

The RSS further said that they have always discouraged the practice of slaughter, however, the previous governments have supported clerics when it came to the animal sacrifice. They added that were thankful to the Yogi government for prohibiting animal slaughter in the open.

Lucknow: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)- affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch on Wednesday urged its members to end the practice of slaughter and instead, cut cakes with caricatures of goats on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, leading to a controversy in Uttar Pradesh. The manch also termed it an “eco-friendly” Eid, Times of India reported.

“Prophet Muhammad had never asked Ibrahim to sacrifice animal once due to his devotion. Quran never teaches such a thing. Instead, it said if any human being shows care to animals and birds, God will shower his kindness upon them,” the leading daily reported one of the members of the RSS’ affiliate as saying.

The RSS affiliate further said that they have always discouraged the practice of slaughter. However, the previous governments have supported clerics when it comes to the animal sacrifice. The affiliate, then went on to thank the Yogi government for prohibiting animal slaughter in the open.

The remarks by the RSS affiliate did not go down well with Sunni and Shia clerics and stoked reactions from them. A Shia cleric said that they would continue to sacrifice animals and would not support anyone interfering with it, TOI reported.

On a related note, the Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday levied a ban on the slaughter of goats, sheep or buffaloes in the open or in public on the occasion of Eid-ul-Juha, while issuing directions to authorities to ensure it is done only in abattoirs. The court also imposed a ban on animal sacrifice inside temples, while maintaining that the order is applied to one and all irrespective of religion.