CALIFORNIA: Online store Amazon continues to sell the stuff like shoes, dog coat and other with Indian flag imprinted on them, days after the company withdrawn Tiranga-themed doormats that angered foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and other Indians.
The online retail giant’s United States store sells shoes and shoe lace metal hoops bearing a likeness to the Indian Tricolour.
“The product described as “Chukka Canvas shoes”, priced at $43.99 (Rs 3,000 approximately), and shoe lace accessories ($4.49 or Rs 300) are available on Amazon from a Los Angeles-based company N.Y.L.A.,” said an Indian media report soon after the pictures of the shoes went viral on the social media.
Earlier on Wednesday, Amazon removed doormats carrying the Indian flag from its Canadian website after the external affairs ministry issued threat to rescind visas of the US company’s employees.
“Disrespect to the national flag is a punishable offence in India and can attract three-year jail term and a fine or both,” said the ministry in a statement.
“Amazon must tender unconditional apology,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj wrote on Twitter. “They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately.”
“If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant Indian Visa to any Amazon official,” she added. “We will also rescind the Visas issued earlier.”
Responding to Swaraj’s threat, the company spokesperson sent an email to the ministry saying, “The item is no longer available for sale on the site.”
