Just when you think Hindutva supremacists can’t get any worse, they stoop lower. Now they’re calling for a McDonald’s boycott as #BoycottMcDonalds trends on Twitter. All this ire because the International food chain serves halal food.
Like most International food chains, McDonald’s offers halal food the same way it offers vegetarian options in India.
How did #BoycottMcDonalds start?
It all started when a Twitter user recently asked McDonald’s India whether they serve halal meat in their chain of restaurants.
@mcdonaldsindia Is McDonald’s in India halal certified?
— hh01 (@hibailyas89) August 22, 2019
McDonald’s India obviously said yes. They even listed the details of how they source meat from suppliers that are HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certified.
“All our restaurants have HALAL certificates. You can ask the respective restaurant Managers to show you the certificate for your satisfaction and confirmation.”
https://twitter.com/mcdonaldsindia/status/1164584030647377920
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Since then, Hindu supremacists have kept #BoycottMcDonalds going strong. These people are ‘calling out‘ McDonald’s for serving halal meat in a non-Muslim majority country. Which is ironic since India brands itself internationally as a secular state.
Why serve Halaal meat in a country where more than 80% are non Muslims! #BoycottMcDonalds
— Nationalist Indian 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@kdg_81) August 23, 2019
Indian Twitter users were even threatening to make McDonald’s end up like Zomato, the food delivery service.
Go To Hell, then. We Hindus only have JHATKA MEAT, Will educate others as well to not have any Non Veg Food From your chain. If you not want to end up like ZOMATO, ensure that JHATKA MEAT is served. Else, embrace for Financial Loss. https://t.co/ySGeo7Cxec
— ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (@HasdaaPunjab) August 23, 2019
As an International chain, if right-wing Indians do put an end to McDonald’s, the chain will continue to work in the rest of the world. Most International food chains offer kosher or halal meat as a regular practice. This allows for a uniform quality throughout all global outlets.
In fact, the kosher or halal methods of meat handling are cleaner with fewer chances of bioactive decay compared to other methods. That is why kosher and halal meat can be ‘aged’ better for steaks.
Will McDonald’s End Up Like Zomato?
In July this year, Zomato was also at the receiving end of a Hindu supremacist bashing. It started when an Indian Bhakht cried foul after the service sent a Muslim rider to deliver his food.
Later when the man along with the Hindutva community called for Zomato to fire all Muslim employees, Zomato tweeted;
“Food doesn’t have a religion. It is a religion.”
https://twitter.com/ZomatoIN/status/1156429449258250240
To this, trolls bashed Zomato by saying;
“If food had no religion, why did they add a ‘halal‘ tag to their restaurants.”
Zomato responded with ‘food for thought’.
https://twitter.com/ZomatoIN/status/1156527900931346432
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Back to McDonald’s, it seems like Hindu nationalists want to make their hate for minority groups pretty clear:
“Why don’t you open separate outlets for discerning 0.1% peaceful clientele in each city? Let’s see if you can keep this open even for a day…why you expect majority of your clients to suffer halal?”
Why don't you open separate outlets for discerning 0.1% peaceful clientele in each city ? Let's see if you can keep this open even for a day…why you expect majority of your clients to suffer halal?
— Old Man The Lalten🇮🇳 (@marquee58) August 23, 2019
Thanks for the info what about jhatka meat which we Hindus eat either start serving or we ain't gonna come to ur outlets ever #boycottmcdonalds
— nitin shetty (@nitingshetty) August 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/suyashk0939/status/1164782557436579841
What about #Jhatka certification?
— Nandini 🇮🇳 (@NAN_DINI_) August 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/upasanatigress/status/1164735955682521089
Dear @McDonalds,
Per your response, should I understand that your products are not meant for non-Muslims in India? Do let me know. @VeereshMalik @satyanveshan @Matribhakt @harry_delhi @bharatheeyann @ShilpiTiwari5— வெற்றிவேல்_வீரவேல் (@CAbhijeeth) August 23, 2019
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Hindutva supremacists were the bulk of the trolls.
https://twitter.com/_Appu17/status/1164769124414701568
HINDUs must boycott McDonalds #boycottmcdonalds @mariawirth1 @davidfrawleyved
— Chintamani Gogate (@crgogate) August 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/SAMEER0107/status/1164600188582821888
Some people made it about animal cruelty, while not been vegan themselves. The irony:
https://twitter.com/TPrasadSpeaks/status/1164745263262707712
As an International food chain, if McDonald’s India did not cater to market requirements they couldn’t be a global brand. Let’s not forget McDonald’s basically sells hamburgers. The food chain even has halal options in its home country America. The United States is a secular state that brands itself as a ‘cultural melting pot‘.
How effective do you think #BoycottMcDonalds turn out to be?
Idiots will remain idiots. Macdonald should post their daily sales report in response to this to show off this campaign has actually been effective.