Hindus want Australia to respect billionaire Oswals’ belief of “no meat” in home

Chaitra Krushna Shashthi, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

From Our Correspondent

Hindus have strongly criticized the construction union of Western Australia for reportedly insisting that workers be allowed to consume meat while constructing the home of billionaire Oswals in Perth in Australia.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that while each company/organization in the world had its own unique policies and regulations, why not Oswals could keep their own home sanctified according to their beliefs.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that many buildings world over had no-smoking and no-drinking policies. If the Oswals wanted no-meat in their premises, all should respect that. If some construction workers did not like the Oswals’ regulations, which seemed quite rightful, they were free to work on other sites. Moreover, Oswals were reportedly providing these workers a designated space where they could eat whatever they wanted. Oswals seemed to be just trying to protect their beliefs and they should be respected for that.

Rajan Zed urged Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its president Catherine Branson to immediately intervene and restore the human rights of Oswals.

Zed further said that Hinduism promoted strict vegetarianism insisting on ahimsa (not harming living creatures) and non-killing, and renouncing animal slaughter and meat eating. It suggested taking of sattvik (vegetables, fruits, etc.) and avoiding rajasik (eggs, etc.) and tamasik (meat, intoxicants, etc.) foods. There was extensive protection of life in Hinduism and ahimsa was a command. All the major religions of the world were opposed to killing, he added.

Many Hollywood and other celebrities are reportedly flocking to vegetarianism for health and ethical reasons, besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to reports, meat is responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than transport’s 13 per cent.

Rajan Zed argued that Australia seemed to be lacking in human rights culture and it needed to do a lot to become a fully civilized society and to stay competitive globally. It still did not have a charter of rights and its human rights framework needed an urgent reform. It reportedly had not directly incorporated the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; or the Convention on the Rights of the Child into Australian law.

An AHRC report highlights “a lack of constitutional protection against racial discrimination in Australia” and talks about “absence of any entrenched guarantee against racial discrimination that would override the law of the Commonwealth”. “There is no Federal law to address religious discrimination or vilification… ethnic minority groups are targeted as an obstacle to social cohesion and stability…”, it adds.

According to US Department of State 2008 reports for Australia, although the Government is secular, each session of Parliament begins with a joint recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. State of Tasmania is the only state or territory whose constitution specifically provides citizens with the right to profess and practice their religion.

Rajan Zed stressed that Australia needed to do deep introspection of its heart and be kind to immigrants, minorities, indigenous people, and other vulnerable groups. In addition to various Christian denominations, Australia now had considerable number of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, etc., besides followers of Aborigines traditional religions.

Vegetarians India-born Pankaj Oswal and wife Radhika Oswal have reportedly asked construction crew not to eat meat at the building site where they are constructing their $70 million Taj-on-Swan mega-mansion. Located in the exclusive suburb Peppermint Grove in Perth, this mansion, expected to complete towards the end of 2011, is said to be the biggest residence in the country on the most expensive block of land.

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