05-20-2005, 01:36 AM
Lost Coast brewery - NRI sues US brewery over 'Ganesh beer'
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Washington: Offended by the depiction of Hindu God Ganesh on a bottle of beer, an Indian American law student is suing the company for "hurting the sentiments of Hindus worldwide".
Though Lost Coast Brewery has withdrawn the label, Brij Dhir, a Golden Gate University law student who is also an attorney licensed in Mumbai, said he was seeking damages worth US $1 billion from the company for "intimidating Hindus from practising their religion".
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Dhir, who hails from Brentwood, said the company's Indica Indias IPA label showed Ganesh holding a beer in one of his arms and another in his trunk.
"How can you show a god in such a way?" Dhir asked. "There are lots of ways of having fun. This is not fun," he was quoted as saying in the Contra Costa Times.
The brewery has e-mailed Dhir saying it would withdraw the product.
"I don't want to offend any Hindu people," co-owner Barbara Groom said.
But Dhir seeks atleast US $25,000 and his lawsuit mentioned that US $1 billion would be appropriate to compensate.
Also named as defendants were Safeway, which carried the product, the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the state Attorney Generals office.
Dhir alleged it had failed to respond to his requests for action against the brewery, the report said. <!--c2--><!--ec2-->
http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory...d=13744934
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Washington: Offended by the depiction of Hindu God Ganesh on a bottle of beer, an Indian American law student is suing the company for "hurting the sentiments of Hindus worldwide".
Though Lost Coast Brewery has withdrawn the label, Brij Dhir, a Golden Gate University law student who is also an attorney licensed in Mumbai, said he was seeking damages worth US $1 billion from the company for "intimidating Hindus from practising their religion".
 Editor's Choice
Hindu god, beer label don't mix, lawsuit says
Beer 'Ganesh' brews storm in US
Dhir, who hails from Brentwood, said the company's Indica Indias IPA label showed Ganesh holding a beer in one of his arms and another in his trunk.
"How can you show a god in such a way?" Dhir asked. "There are lots of ways of having fun. This is not fun," he was quoted as saying in the Contra Costa Times.
The brewery has e-mailed Dhir saying it would withdraw the product.
"I don't want to offend any Hindu people," co-owner Barbara Groom said.
But Dhir seeks atleast US $25,000 and his lawsuit mentioned that US $1 billion would be appropriate to compensate.
Also named as defendants were Safeway, which carried the product, the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the state Attorney Generals office.
Dhir alleged it had failed to respond to his requests for action against the brewery, the report said. <!--c2--><!--ec2-->
http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory...d=13744934