India takes up Ganesha ad issue with Australia

India today took up with Australia a recent offensive advertisement which features Lord Ganesha and other divinities promoting consumption of lamb meat and demanded its withdrawal.

The advertisement was released on Monday by the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), triggering  protests from the Indian community in the country.

"High Commission is taking note of the protests of Indian community in Australia, have made a demarche to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Communication and Arts and Department of Agriculture bringing to their notice an offensive advertisement by Meat and Livestock Australia that hurt the religious sentiments of the Indian community," the Indian High Commission in Canberra said in a statement.

In a video advertisement released by MLA recently, Lord Ganesha along with other religious figures is found to be 'toasting lamb', which the Indian community considers to be offensive and hurting their religious sentiments.

The Consulate General of India in Sydney has taken up the matter directly with MLA and urged them to withdraw the advertisement, it said.

A number of Community Associations have also registered their protest with Government of Australia and MLA.

MLA's latest campaign for lamb features a number of religious figures including Jesus, Buddha, Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard and Greek goddess Aphrodite sitting around a lamb lunch.

The advertisement has led to protests by Hindu organisations and Indian community in Australia who have demanded to take it off air.

Hindu Council of Australia called on MLA to voluntarily take the advertisement off air.

"We strongly urge MLA to withdraw the offensive advertisement immediately and extend an unconditional apology to not only the Hindu-Australian community but to members of all religious groups that are hurt by this nonsensical advertisement," the Hindu Council of Australia said in a statement.