Russian Brewery Faces Backlash for Using Gandhi's Image on Beer Cans

INIndia|

A Russian brewery, Rewort, is under fire for featuring the image of Mahatma Gandhi on their beer cans, sparking outrage among many Indians. The controversy began when images of the cans appeared online, prompting Suparno Satpathy, a politician and grandson of former Odisha chief minister Nandini Satpathy, to call for Indian authorities to intervene. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "It has been found that Russia's Rewort is selling beer in the name of Gandhi ji."

Social media users quickly condemned the branding, questioning the association of Gandhi, an icon of peace and abstinence, with alcohol. One critic stated, “Highly unacceptable. What is the relation between Gandhiji and alcohol?" A video circulating online showed individuals inspecting the cans, emphasizing the contrast between Gandhi's representation on Indian currency and on alcoholic beverages. This is not the first incident involving Gandhi's image on alcohol; previous instances have also drawn criticism and led to public apologies.

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