Maharashtra Fisheries and Port Development Minister Nitish Rane has launched the ‘Malhar Certification’, an initiative aimed at establishing a network of mutton shops operated exclusively by Hindu community members. Announced on March 11, the certification seeks to ensure adulteration-free meat from Hindu-owned establishments across the state.
Taking to social media platform X, Rane highlighted the significance of the initiative for the Hindu community. “Today we have taken a very important step for the Hindu community in Maharashtra,” he wrote. He further added, “Through Malhar Certification, we will have access to our rightful mutton shops, where both the shop and the seller will belong to the Hindu community. There will be no adulteration in the meat anywhere.”
Rane also urged people to purchase meat only from Malhar-certified establishments, emphasizing that it would contribute to the financial empowerment of Hindu youth. “I appeal to you to use Malhar certification as much as possible and, in fact, avoid buying mutton from places that lack this certification. These efforts will definitely help the Hindu community’s youth become financially empowered,” his post continued.
Rane Responds to Raj Thackeray’s Comments on River Ganga
In a separate development, Rane reacted to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s remarks about the cleanliness of River Ganga on March 10. Thackeray had questioned the upkeep of the river despite its religious significance.
Responding to the statement, Rane defended the ‘Namo Gange’ initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Raj Sahib has incomplete information about the cleanliness drive—Namo Gange. No one has the right to insult the Hindu religion. I have never seen him question the sacrifice of goats during Bakr-Eid,” Rane remarked.
Thackeray’s comments had pointed out that, despite calling rivers ‘mother,’ they were not being maintained properly. Rane’s response suggested that the MNS chief’s critique was selective and did not account for the efforts made under Modi’s leadership to clean the Ganga.
