A US-based Hindu group has backed India-born billionaire couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal, building a 70-million-dollar mega-mansion believed to be the biggest in Australia, in their dispute with construction workers who have been banned from eating meat at the site in Perth.
In a statement, 'Universal Society of Hinduism' said that while each company/organisation in the world had its own
unique policies and regulations, why not Oswals could keep their own home sanctified according to their religious beliefs.
It criticised the construction union of Western Australia for reportedly insisting that workers be allowed to have meat while constructing the home of the couple in Perth in
Australia.
Rajan Zed, the 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," Zed said in the statement.
Zed also urged Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) President Catherine Branson to immediately intervene and restore the human rights of Oswals.
He stressed that Australia needed to be "kind" to immigrants, minorities, indigenous people and other vulnerable groups.
Pankaj and Radhika Oswal, who are vegetarians, have asked the construction crew not to eat meat at the site where they are constructing their Australian dollars 70 million Taj-on-Swan mega-mansion.
Located in the exclusive suburb Peppermint Grove in Perth, the mansion, likely to be completed towards the end of 2011, is said to be the biggest residence in the country on the most expensive block of land.