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Pub CEO apologizes over ’offensive’ imagery

MUMBAI: An FIR was registered against a suburban restaurant and pub, Goregaon Social, on Wednesday after an NGO accused it of "blasphemy" and "hurting sentiments by outrageous depiction of saints and religious items". .

The Archdiocese of Bombay issued a statement demanding that the establishment be shut and its licences and permits be cancelled till the offending decor is changed. The management has apologised and said it had removed the imagery and tweaked the verses con sidered offensive.

 Ex-corporator Nicholas Almeida, who filed the complaint, said he had visited the establishment with his brother and found "deliberate acts intended to insult religious beliefs". A non-governmental organization accused a suburban pub, Goregaon Social, of blasphemy on Wednesday . It said, "There are stained glass paintings depicting saints with funny names written underneath." A First Information Report has been registered in the matter. .

 "The bar area has a backdrop of a Tabernacle set up.Even the seating arrangement in the bar is that of church pews. The messages inscribed on the benches are from the Bible," said Nicholas Almeida, a member of the Watchdog Foundation. .

 "Jesus is depicted holding a leather bag, Mother Mary carrying a chain in her hand instead of rosary , Moses holding a tablet, St Anthony wearing glasses, etc. The Tabernacle, where Eucharist is stored or reserved, is shown having liquor bottles. There’s an inscription of the holy cross on the container resembling the Tabernacle which is considered holy by Christians," Almeida said in his statement to the cops. Almeida said he had clicked pictures of the "offensive" imagery on his cellphone. .

 "We have registered an FIR under Section 295 (A) of the Inidan Penal Code and will make inquiries with the management," an officer from the Dindoshi police station said. BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar tweeted that he had taken up the matter with civic commissioner Ajoy Mehta. .

 "It is agreed that Mehta will consider if licences (of the restaurant) are to be revoked, and he will also investigate if the officials who gave the licences are at fault," Shelar tweeted. .

 Designed by the Basrai brothers Ayaaz and Zameer, Goregaon Social opened in August this year and was themed after an old burnt-down cathedral inside the church of what they called "anti-consu merism". The designers had said their idea was to insert a dark Masonic temple into a modern retail store facade, to contrast it with generic modern high-end luxury store cliches. The stained glass paintings were taken off after Social received the notice on November 1. Riyaaz Amlani, CEO of the group that runs the Social brand of pubs, wrote a personal apology addressed to the Archdiocese of Bombay in response to their Facebook post on the decor. 

 Amlani, who is currently travelling out of the country , wrote, "I have just learnt that the decor of Goregaon Social has offended the religious sentiments of Catholics. For this error, I offer a complete and unconditional apology on behalf of our group. Goregaon Social’s design was meant as a satirical statement against the ever growing trend of overt consumerism and the culture of advertising where people are made to feel inadequate and unhappy unless they buy more and more things. In no way was there any intent on part of Social to disrespect or hurt sentiments that are sacred to any community . On the contrary , it is a call to move away from the pursuit of material things and instead focus on the spiritual pursuits. The intended message is that money and things cannot buy you happiness," he said

Amlanifurther added, "We have already removed all the imagery that the Watchdog Foundation considered offensive and further commit to ensure that we do all we can to ensure that no one’s sentiments are offended. I once again apologize for any hurt we have caused and accept full responsibility for the same. If there is anything at all we can do to show our commitment towards making amends please do let me know." 

 Holy verses tweaked to fit the theme and jazz up the property have been removed. .

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