Amazon on Thursday wrote letter to Sushma Swaraj.
Serious questions are being raised about Amazon’s monitoring system of its vendors and products after more items with the Indian national flag was reported by users.
A day after Amazon Canada was forced to remove a doormat listed on the website for featuring Indian flag as its theme, there are reports about Amazon USA selling shoes and shoe lace that carry Indian tricolor.
After Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and a slew of Indian-origins in Canada reported inappropriate presentation of the national flag of India, Amazon soon went into damage control mode and removed the product from the site.
In a slightly intimidating tweet to Amazon, Sushma Swaraj had asked for an unconditional apology from Amazon and threatened to cancel the visas of its officials if the product is not removed from the website immediately.
Amazon on Thursday wrote to Sushma Swaraj, expressing regret at hurting Indian sensibilities and pulled off the offending item.
Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
When Amazon thought, the issue has subsided, the US-based e-retailer found itself in more trouble as a few Indian users found a canvas shoe titled “Chukka Canvas shoes†with Indian national flag as its theme enlisted for a price of $43 and a matching shoe lace with the tricolor for $4.49.
According to Hindustan Times, the product has been listed by Los Angeles-based company called NYLA.
A basic search conducted by The American Bazaar in Amazon US website with the keyword “Indian Flag†found items such as Indian flag themed bracelets, toothpicks, T-shirts, mobile cover, and Indian national flag pet ID tag for dogs and cats popping up.
If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
With a warning already sent out to Amazon for indecent representation of the Indian national flag by the External Affairs ministry, we are yet to know how the ministry will react to the new developments.
Swaraj had directed the Indian mission on in Canada on Wednesday to take up the issue seriously with Amazon.
Disrespecting the national flag is a punishable offense under the Prevention of Insults to Honor Act, 1971.
Listing of products that feature Indian national flag is not isolated to Amazon, Café Press another US-based online retailer offering user-customized on demand products has lasted a T-shirt for dogs with Indian national emblem. The product is listed as “Indian coat of arms seal dog t-shirt†and is priced at $19.99 (Rs 1362).
Using of State Emblem of India has been banned under the Prohibition of Improper Use Act of 2005. According to this act, use of “the emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed,†a punishable offense.
Singling out Amazon alone for such violations would mean overlooking some of the Indian retailers that also has listed products with the national emblems of other counters. With India protesting against the US and Canada for violating the law, there are chances that other countries would scrutinize Indian website for such violations.
T-shirts and other fashion items featuring the US flag has been a trend in India for the last so many years and going by the US flag code all such practices are unlawful. According to the US Flag code, the national flag should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use.