Mahatma Gandhi’s image on liquor bottles of Israel-based company rakes up controversy

The use of Mahatma Gandhi image on liquor bottle by Maka Brewery by an Israel based company has raked up controversy. Its has been urged to both Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with the manufacturer.

Eby J Jos, Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation has written a letter to both prime ministers on Sunday stating that Maka Brewery in the Tefen Industrial Zone (Central Galilee) had made liquor bottles depicting historical leaders, reported United News of India.

Calling it an improper conduct, Jos said, said the image used in the beer bottle has been designed by a person named Amit Shimoni.

Chairman of Pala-based Foundation in Kottayam in Kerala said, "The image is a mockery of Gandhi wearing a cooling glass, a T-Shirt and an overcoat. On his website hipstoryart.com, there are many pictures and products of Gandhi being made a mockery.”

Mahatma Gandhi, known as the father of the nation, is the world's most admired prophet of non-violence, said Jos. He also demanded immediate steps to remove Gandhi’s derogatory images from liquor bottles and website.

Jos in his letter had urged to PM Modi and Netanyahu to instruct Maka Brewery to withdraw the liquor bottle labelled with the image of Gandhi at the earliest.

He further stated that Gandhi, who took tough stand against the consumption and promotion of alcohol, once had said that at the event of him getting power, he would close all liquor manufacturing and sales in the country in one go.