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Amazon removes Indian-Flag Doormats as India Threatens Punishment
BOBINS ABRAHAM | JANUARY 12, 2017
This after External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj threatened of not granting Indian Visa to any Amazon official if the controversial product wasn't removed. The Washington Post quoting a spokesperson of Amazon reported that the product is no longer available on its platform.
Earlier, two vendors, namely Mayers Flag Doormats and XLYL were offering the Indian flag themed doormats which had irked many Indians including EMA Sushma Swaraj.
Swaraj tweeted demanding an unconditional apology from the company and that the product should be removed.
India’s flag code outlines the proper display of the saffron, green and white banner and prohibits disrespecting it.
As of Thursday the doormats had been removed from Amazon’s Canadian site, though it still offers those bearing flags from countries like the United Kingdom, the U.S., Norway and Costa Rica.
Amazon’s India website, meanwhile, offers for sale doormats emblazoned with the Union Jack.
The Indian flag doormats are “no longer available for sale on the site,” said a spokeswoman for Amazon in India.
India is a critical market for the Seattle behemoth’s future international growth. After failing to find much success in China, Mr. Bezos has in recent years pledged $5 billion of investment in the South Asian country, with Amazon expanding rapidly and gaining market share on its domestic rivals.
This isn’t the first time a global technology company has come under fire for allegedly offending Indians’ cultural sensitives.
Last year an attorney in India filed a petition to outlaw “Pokémon Go,” the hit smartphone game from Japan’s Nintendo Co. and the U.S.’s Niantic Inc., for displaying virtual eggs in houses of worship, supposedly running afoul of religious practices.
Source: India Times / WSJ
BOBINS ABRAHAM | JANUARY 12, 2017
This after External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj threatened of not granting Indian Visa to any Amazon official if the controversial product wasn't removed. The Washington Post quoting a spokesperson of Amazon reported that the product is no longer available on its platform.
Earlier, two vendors, namely Mayers Flag Doormats and XLYL were offering the Indian flag themed doormats which had irked many Indians including EMA Sushma Swaraj.
Swaraj tweeted demanding an unconditional apology from the company and that the product should be removed.
India’s flag code outlines the proper display of the saffron, green and white banner and prohibits disrespecting it.
As of Thursday the doormats had been removed from Amazon’s Canadian site, though it still offers those bearing flags from countries like the United Kingdom, the U.S., Norway and Costa Rica.
Amazon’s India website, meanwhile, offers for sale doormats emblazoned with the Union Jack.
The Indian flag doormats are “no longer available for sale on the site,” said a spokeswoman for Amazon in India.
India is a critical market for the Seattle behemoth’s future international growth. After failing to find much success in China, Mr. Bezos has in recent years pledged $5 billion of investment in the South Asian country, with Amazon expanding rapidly and gaining market share on its domestic rivals.
This isn’t the first time a global technology company has come under fire for allegedly offending Indians’ cultural sensitives.
Last year an attorney in India filed a petition to outlaw “Pokémon Go,” the hit smartphone game from Japan’s Nintendo Co. and the U.S.’s Niantic Inc., for displaying virtual eggs in houses of worship, supposedly running afoul of religious practices.
Source: India Times / WSJ
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