SGPC says it's ok to eat meat as long it is jatka

[Guest mehtab]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_407297,0008.htm

Jhatka vs halal: Sikh body raises meaty issue

Manpreet Randhawa

Jalandhar, October 7

If the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has its way, all hotels, restaurants and fast-food chains will soon have to carry displays specifying the kind of meat they serve: halal or jhatka.

SGPC honorary secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta has said he would write to the Union government to issue a notification in this regard because the consumption of halal meat is strictly prohibited for Sikhs.

"It is, in fact, one of the cardinal sins for a Sikh to consume halal meat," said Calcutta. "In case a Sikh does so, he has to be re-baptised. Hence, it's important for eating joints to display what meat is served”.

Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti has also taken note of the matter and called upon all Sikhs to avoid consuming halal meat.

Arun, an official representing McDonald's here, said the fast-food chain had been using halal meat all over India. "We never knew its consumption was prohibited for Sikhs," he said. "Since the matter has come to our notice now, we have decided to inform our headquarters in the US. Once we receive a direction from them on displaying the kind of meat we serve, it will be done."

J.S. Grover of Nirula's, Delhi, said that most of the non-vegetarian items at their outlets were cut and processed with the help of machines. "Hence, it's difficult to ascertain whether it's halal or jhatka meat," he said. Grover added

if the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) issued guidelines in this regard, he would abide by it.

FHRAI secretary general Sham Suri said since the SGPC had decided to knock on the Centre's door, the association would await an official notification on the issue. So far, hotels, restaurants and fast-food joints are governed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, said Suri.

Meanwhile, the SGPC's stand has already found sympathisers. "In Europe and other countries one gets certified halal and jhatka meat so that nobody's religious sentiments are hurt," says G.S. Lamba, editor, Sant Sipahi magazine. "It is shocking how the industry can be indifferent to the sentiments of Sikhs."

Interestingly, the issue is not a new one. It is learnt that on October 9, 1938, then MLA Sampooran Singh, who was also a member of the SGPC, had moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly that all SGPC members must support the Jhatka Bill.

Ninety-six SGPC members in the House had unanimously supported the resolution.

[akjforever]

This was posted in the wrong section on this forum, so I posted it here. What do you guys think? SGPC is saying that it is ok to eat meat as long as it's jatka. :umm: Here is another way many will be misguided into thinking eating meat is ok in Sikhism. What do you guys think?

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Jhatka vs halal: Sikh body raises meaty issue

Manpreet Randhawa

Jalandhar, October 7

If the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has its way, all hotels, restaurants and fast-food chains will soon have to carry displays specifying the kind of meat they serve: halal or jhatka.

SGPC honorary secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta has said he would write to the Union government to issue a notification in this regard because the consumption of halal meat is strictly prohibited for Sikhs.

"It is, in fact, one of the cardinal sins for a Sikh to consume halal meat," said Calcutta. "In case a Sikh does so, he has to be re-baptised. Hence, it's important for eating joints to display what meat is served”.

Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti has also taken note of the matter and called upon all Sikhs to avoid consuming halal meat.

Arun, an official representing McDonald's here, said the fast-food chain had been using halal meat all over India. "We never knew its consumption was prohibited for Sikhs," he said. "Since the matter has come to our notice now, we have decided to inform our headquar

ters in the US. Once we receive a direction from them on displaying the kind of meat we serve, it will be done."

J.S. Grover of Nirula's, Delhi, said that most of the non-vegetarian items at their outlets were cut and processed with the help of machines. "Hence, it's difficult to ascertain whether it's halal or jhatka meat," he said. Grover added if the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) issued guidelines in this regard, he would abide by it.

FHRAI secretary general Sham Suri said since the SGPC had decided to knock on the Centre's door, the association would await an official notification on the issue. So far, hotels, restaurants and fast-food joints are governed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, said Suri.

Meanwhile, the SGPC's stand has already found sympathisers. "In Europe and other countries one gets certified halal and jhatka meat so that nobody's religious sentiments are hurt," says G.S. Lamba, editor, Sant Sipahi magazine. "It is shocking how the industry can be indifferent to the sentiments of Sikhs."

Interestingly, the issue is not a new one. It is learnt that on October 9, 1938, then MLA Sampooran Singh, who was also a member of the SGPC, had moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly that all SGPC members must support the Jhatka Bill.

Ninety-six SGPC members in the House had unanimously supported the resolution.

[S1ngh]

Kinda stupid hana..

Why bother to go thru deep <admin-profanity filter activated> of figuring out what type of meat is this or that.. Just plain say No to all type of meat..

[S1ngh]

"In case a Sikh does so, he has to be re-baptised. Hence, it's important for eating joints to display what meat is served”.

arghhhh :umm: @ what bold part has to do anything with sikhi..

[smartsingh24]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fathe

Good Lord! I don't even know where to begin with what's wrong. I have alot of things going on in my mind, but the one thing that sticks out the most, is that it doesn't matter what kind of meat you eat, it's still wrong. You just aren't supposed to do it. It's a sin, and any kind of meat you can't eat. Period. No exceptions. That's the way I was raised, and that's what i'm sticking to.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fathe

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

who is SGPC to say what is right and wrong for Sikhs?

I always thought we had to follow the decision of Punj Pyare !

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

O...K...here we go again.........

Panthic Rehat Maryada...approved by the PANTH, NOT SGPC. Quite simply, this topic isn't worth internet space.

Do nitnem, read the Guru Granth Sahib...Guru Sahib shall do the rest and give you knowledge of whether to eat meat or not.

Too many times this topic has been done with no resolution...

[Vir Singh]

Whether it is Halal, Haram, or Jhatka, Meat is Meat...

[Guest balwinderkaur]

how can one bring himself or herself to consume something that has gone through sooooo much fear, torture and trauma upon its slaughter just for enjoying its taste?????? :'( :'( juz go see the way these animals are crying out.....and we happily eat them ignoring their cries??????? :'( :'( it baffles and SADDENS me....taste just lasts for a few seconds....then its digested and excreted....is it worth it putting an innocent life on the line just for that??? i thought sikhs should have daya..and spare the life of the animal.....soooooo whether jhatka or halal or WHATEVER....i say we sikhs should not go near meat.

[Guest SikhForLife]

ur still killing those poor birds.. :umm: :'(

(i think chicken is a bird)