BJP MLA Forces Rollback of ₹32-Cr Slaughterhouse in Gujarat, Shankaracharya Calls Him ‘Asli Hindu’.

The Other Amit Shah: Gujarat BJP MLA Who Halted ₹32-Crore Slaughterhouse Project, Earns ‘Asli Hindu’ Recognition by Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda.

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | New Delhi | Feb 10, 2026:: Amid an intensifying debate over what constitutes “true Hindu,” a political development in Gujarat has brought a different Amit Shah into national focus. Not the Union Home Minister from Gandhinagar — but Amit Shah, the BJP MLA from Ellisbridge in Ahmedabad — whose firm opposition to a proposed ₹32-crore modern slaughterhouse project led to its rollback and earned him the title of “Asli Hindu” (Real Hindu) from Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda.

The episode unfolds at a time when the Shankaracharya has openly challenged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — the Mahant of Gorakshapeeth, a religious seat historically associated with cow protection — to prove his “real Hinduness” through concrete action.

₹32-Crore Slaughterhouse Proposal Sparks Ideological Clash

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in its ₹17,000-crore draft budget for 2026–27, proposed allocating ₹32 crore for constructing a new high-tech slaughterhouse in Shahwadi–Behrampura under Town Planning Scheme 32. Spread over 15,882 square metres, the project blueprint included:

• 24×7 veterinary doctors
• Ante-mortem examination rooms
• Chilling and cold storage facilities
• Air-conditioned transport vehicles
• Rendering and effluent treatment plants

Officials claimed the project aligned with Supreme Court and Central Government environmental and regulatory guidelines.

However, the proposal quickly became the most debated item in the budget.

Soon after AMC Commissioner Banshanidhi Pani presented the draft, a high-level meeting was convened at the mayor’s bungalow. Present were the mayor, the standing committee chairman, BJP MLAs, and key organisational leaders.

It was here that Ellisbridge MLA Amit Shah firmly objected.

“A budget provision for a slaughterhouse can never be tolerated. This is about the slaughter of mute animals. We do not agree with this decision at all,” he reportedly said, arguing that the project contradicted the ideological foundation of the BJP, particularly its stance on cow protection and prevention of animal cruelty.

Faced with party resistance and public sentiment, the standing committee chairman assured that the provision would be withdrawn. The ₹32-crore allocation was subsequently rolled back before further procedural movement.

Shankaracharya’s Endorsement: ‘Asli Hindu’

In the backdrop of this development, Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda declared Gujarat MLA Amit Shah an “Asli Hindu” for his stand on cow protection and his resistance to what he termed institutionalised animal slaughter.

The endorsement comes at a time when the Shankaracharya has been vocal in questioning BJP-ruled governments over their policies on cow slaughter and beef export.

He recently gave a 40-day ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government, demanding a complete ban on cow slaughter and beef export from the state. In a televised interview with ABP Ganga, he criticised the Union Budget for providing a 2% tax reduction to meat exporters and questioned the lack of policy change in Uttar Pradesh as 10 days passed away after getting the ultimatum.

The endorsement carries weight because it comes amid the Shankaracharya’s ongoing critique of BJP-ruled governments over slaughter policies and beef exports.

The Challenge to Yogi Adityanath

The Shankaracharya has directly challenged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to prove that he is a “real Hindu.” Notably, Adityanath is the Mahant of Gorakshapeeth — a religious institution traditionally dedicated to gau-raksha (cow protection).

The pontiff reportedly gave a 40-day ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government, demanding:

• A complete ban on cow slaughter
• An end to beef exports from the state

He questioned how a state led by the head of a cow-protection peeth could continue to remain a major contributor to meat exports under existing legal frameworks.

In a televised interaction, he also criticised the Uttar Pradesh Governments support for Union Budget for reportedly granting a 2% tax relief to meat exporters, arguing that such policies send contradictory signals about ideological commitment.

‘Batoge to Katoge’ Remark and Rebuttal

The controversy further intensified after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated his “Batoge to Katoge” (If divided, you will be cut) remark during a public address in Sitapur, stressing the need for Hindu unity against internal fragmentation.

Responding sharply, Jyotishpeeth Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda questioned the consistency of such calls for unity. He argued that while invoking slogans warning against division, the ruling establishment must also introspect on policy decisions that, in his view, have deepened social fault lines.

The Shankaracharya specifically referred to the BJP-led government’s introduction of changes under the UGC framework, which he claimed have resulted in hardened social divisions within Hindu society rather than fostering cohesion. He alleged that certain structural and educational policy decisions risk reinforcing caste-based and institutional disparities instead of promoting a unified Hindu identity.

He maintained that true unity cannot be achieved through rhetoric alone but requires policy alignment with the stated goal of social harmony. According to him, leadership must demonstrate consistency between ideological slogans and governance decisions if the message of unity is to carry moral credibility.

Sovereignty Concerns: US Tariffs and Ceasefire Announcements

In a broader political critique, the Shankaracharya raised apprehensions about what he described as emerging “sovereignty disorders.”

Referring to recent tariff negotiations and geopolitical developments, he questioned whether India’s sovereign decision-making was being overshadowed by the United States. He remarked that in certain instances, statements concerning trade terms and even ceasefire understandings with Pakistan appeared to be publicly articulated by the US before India formally addressed them.

Such developments, he suggested, raise concerns about the perception of India’s independent diplomatic voice under the current regime.

A Symbolic Political Moment

While the AMC’s overall budget prioritised roads, infrastructure and urban development, it is the withdrawn slaughterhouse project that has triggered a wider ideological debate.

For supporters, the Gujarat MLA’s intervention represents a rare instance where ideological consistency overrode administrative planning. For critics, the issue reflects the continuing tension between religious-political narratives and the complex legal-economic structures governing India’s meat industry.

What remains undeniable is that the “other Amit Shah” has emerged as a symbolic figure in an expanding conversation about Hindutva, governance, and ideological accountability — a conversation now stretching from Ahmedabad to Lucknow and beyond.
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_Inputs from ABP Ganga.