(Update: On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj threatened to deny visas to Amazon officials, unless they issue an unconditional apology.)
Amazon Canada found itself in the eye of a storm after it put up doormats featuring the Indian flag for sale.
The move has outraged many, who have left angry comments on the doormat ad’s page, with some calling it an “insult” to the Tricolour.
Besides, a petition on Change.org has called for the product to be removed from the website for “insulting the sentiments of over 1 billion Indians across the world”.
Amazon Canada has not responded to the comments on the page and the product, being sold by Mayers Flag Doormats, is still listed on the site.
People have left comments saying that “Amazon has insulted the national flag” and have asked for the removal of the product, calling it “disrespectful”.
In fact, another vendor featured on Amazon Canada selling Indian flag-themed doormats, XLYL, faced a backlash around the same time as Mayers. XLYL, however, chose to take down its product, as Hindustan Times reported.
Featuring the Tricolour on a doormat violates various clauses of the Flag Code of India. However, it must be noted that in Canada as well as in the US, displaying the respective national flags on various items – including doormats – is allowed under local law.
Americans and Canadians feature their flags on clothing, underwear, beach towels and several other products. In fact, Amazon Canada also sells doormats showing the US flag and a bikini featuring the Canadian one.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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