Amazon writes to Sushma Swaraj, expresses regret at hurting Indian sensibilities

New Delhi: Amazon has written to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and expressed regret at hurting Indian sensibilities, said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday. Company also pulled out offending item, said MEA. Not only External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is helping out Indians in distress across the globe, but she is also protecting India’s pride manifested through national symbols. Taking a tough stand, on Wednesday, Sushma had sought an absolute apology from Amazon for selling Indian Flags as doormat. She had made it clear that if the company failed to apologize, its officials will not be allowed to enter in India. One of her followers brought the issue before her. He tagged her with a screenshot of the company’s website selling “Indian Flag personalised” Welcome Doormats.

@SushmaSwaraj Madam. Amazon Canada must be censured and warned not to sell India flag doormats. Please take action. pic.twitter.com/td4KXlDUQL

— Atul Bhobe (@atulbhobe) January 11, 2017

“Indian High Commission in Canada: This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level,” Swaraj Swaraj tweeted in response.

Indian High Commission in Canada : This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level. https://t.co/L4yI3gLk3h — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017

Swaraj asked Amazon to tender an unconditional apology and immediately withdraw all products insulting the national flag. “If this is not done forthwith we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier,” Swaraj said in a sharply worded tweet.  

Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately. /1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017

Interestingly, in a bid to capture the healthy Indian market, Amazon had announced to invest an addition 3 billion dollar in its Indian operations taking its total investment to 5 billion dollar. Swaraj who is recovering after a kidney transplant, has been keeping a tab on the needs of the Indians in distress across the world through her active twitter diplomacy. Amazon, a repeated offender Earlier, it sold doormats with Hindu deities like Ganesha and Shiva on it. In 2016, upset Hindus had taken up the case with the e-Commerce giant. Interestingly, a US-based website (cafepress.com) has also been in the news for hurting religious sentiments of people as it sold lingerie with pictures of Hindu deities.