The Sikhs had a grievance that Jhatka meat was not allowed in any government institution whereas there was no restriction on the use of Halal meat. This was regarded as an act of discrimination against the Sikhs and they demanded that in all government institutions jhatka and halal should be given equal treatment.
In Muslim dominant localities also the Sikhs were not allowed to perform jhatka. There was an increase in skirmishes between the two communities over the question during the Unionist rule.
Master Tara Singh accused Sir Sikander that his speeches in the legislature had emboldened the Muslims and they had begun to harass the Sikhs over these issues.
On 1 December 1938 Sardar Partap Singh introduced the Jhatka Meat Bill in the Punjab legislature aimed at removing restrictions on the preparation and sale of jhatka meat.
Sir Sikander cleverly side tracked the issue and said that since the question involved the allied questions of beef diet also, the bill could not be allowed to be introduced.
The ‘Second All India Akali Conference’ held at Rurka Kalan on 14–15 February 1941 condemned the restriction on jhatka. The problem could not be solved, as the Unionist government could not afford to lose the support of the Muslims by any relaxation in favour of the Sikhs.
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