Friday, July 29 2005 16:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A brand of meat curries, displaying the sketch of Mahatma Gandhi, sold in Australia came in for sharp criticism in the Rajya Sabha today (July 29, 2005) with a senior BJP member demanding withdrawal of such portrayal, which "ridiculed" the Father of the Nation.

The cans containing curries made out of beef, fish and chicken portrayed a sketch of Mahatma Gandhi and to link the father of nation who preached ahimsa was "deplorable", BJP member Kalraj Mishra said urging the Government to take up the matter with Australian authorities.

"The company was trying to exploit the popularity of Mahatma Gandhi in order to sell beef products," he said making a special mention.

This was not first time such a thing was happening and in the past Hindu gods and goddesses have been portrayed in bad light to promote food products and consumer goods.

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson has also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard, he said.