NEW DELHI, Nov. 27 -- A new divisive agenda has taken hold over India's most populous state -- Uttar Pradesh - with the government banning halal-certified edible items. In the province that has contributed the most Prime Ministers and where the holy sites of Ayodhya and Kashi, revered by the Hindus, are located, the ruling regime seems to have hit upon a pre-election issue to hit the bullseye.

Voters, who might want to drift away, anguished by the lacklustre economic situation and poor employment record, seem never to lack a polarising issue to galvanise them in Uttar Pradesh. It began decades ago with the Ram Temple issue, but now politics is tuning into the Kashi Vishwanath temple 'issue'.

Meat and meat consumption capture headlines...