Sushma Swaraj asks Amazon to withdraw tricolour doormats or face visa ban
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jan 12, 2017
The product was sold on Canadian Amazon portal by Mayers flag doormats.
The Amazon Canada, which is selling the Indian flag doormat, also has the British and the Canadian flags in its inventory.
"You can not insult a national flag of India by making a door mat of it. Delete this listing my immediately", "Dont Try to Provoke Indian Feelings By Doing and posting such Type of Stuff On ur website", "how dare u make a matt of our national flag, have some shame and remove immediately" were some of the comments left on the website.
She even warned the company that no Indian visa will be granted to any Amazon official if the apology in not tendered and even the earlier visas will cancelled.
In a series of tweets, Swaraj lashed out against Amazon after she was informed about the matter.
Amazon has previously removed the controversial items from its stores. "They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately", she said.
Swaraj was intimated about the listing via Twitter by a user named Athul Bhobe who tweeted to the Minister: "Madam". The petition claims that a similar product was also available on amazon.com, which was taken down after the outrage started.
Swaraj stated, "Amazon must tender unconditional apology".
Incidentally, this is not the first time Amazon has sold products deemed offensive to India. "Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level", she said.
It turns out that wiping your feet on the national flag of a country with one billion people could upset a few folks.
