India has lodged an official complaint about the Australian advertisement, in wake of an advertisement that shows Lord Ganesha eating lamb.
In the commercial from industry group Meat and Livestock Australia, a number of religious icons, including Lord Ganesha, Jesus, Buddha and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, are seen sitting down together to a lamb-based meal and raising a glass to the meat.
The ad was met with much anger by Australia’s Indian community, that largely considers Ganesha to be vegetarian.
The Indian High Commission in Canberra said it had taken the issue up with the Australian government.
“Lord Ganesha along with other religious figures is found to be ‘toasting lamb’, which the Indian community consider being offensive and hurting their religious sentiments,” the commission said in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Indian consulate in Sydney has also made a direct appeal to Meat and Livestock Australia to withdraw the commercial.
The industry body said it was meeting community groups to respond to their concerns.
It said it had undertaken extensive research and consultation when producing the advertisement, which was intended to promote inclusivity and not intended to offend.
