India welcomes scrapping of swimwear carrying Goddess images

Melbourne (PTI) - India has welcomed an
Australian company's decision to scrap swimwear line depicting
images of Goddess Lakshmi that had infuriated the Hindu
community worldwide.
The Lisa Blue Swimwear company triggered a controversy
by depicting images of Goddess on a bikini bottom and front of
a model who walked the ramp at Rosemount Australian Fashion
Week in Sydney recently.
The company on Wednesday said that it has cancelled
production of swimwear.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had raised the issue
with his Australian counterpart Craig Emerson during a
bilateral meeting on Thursday.
"Lakshmi is a deity which is worshipped by the Hindus
and using the image on a swimwear line offended the
sensitivities and the religious sentiments," Sharma
said.
"The concerned company was rightly advised and has
withdrawn the line and that issue is settled because by doing
so, sensitivity on this matter and the religious sentiments
have been respected," he said.
".....Unqulaified apology has been rendered and the
government has assured that there will be no repeat, he added.