New Delhi: After a huge outrage in India, retail giant Amazon has pulled out the flip-flops bearing the face of Mahatma Gandhi. The External Affairs Ministry, which had taken up the issue after intervention by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, today said the product is no longer being sold.
External Affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "After the tweets of Minister Sushma Swaraj, our envoy in Washington told Amazon that while providing a platform to third party vendors, they should respect sentiments of Indians."
Mr Swarup said the ministry has been in touch with Amazon in New Delhi and Washington. "The talks have been constructive and the items have been pulled off," he added.
The spotlight on flip flops came days after the sale of Indian flag doormats by Amazon Canada had triggered a furore in India. After her attention was drawn to the doormats on Twitter, Ms Swaraj, livid, demanded that Amazon withdraw the mats and apologise or face trouble with Visa.
The Minister had tweeted:
Within days, Amazon withdrew the product and apologized - but not before a fresh controversy was triggered. Tweeple pointed to the sale of the flip flops with the face of Mahatma Gandhi, posting screen grabs and expressing outrage.
Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das asked Amazon to stop being flippant about Indian symbols and icons, warning that the "indifference" will be at its "own peril".
"Amazon, better behave. Desist from being flippant about Indian symbols & icons. Indifference will be at your own peril," Mr Das said in a tweet.
In another tweet, he added: "Comment on Amazon was as a citizen of India as I felt strongly about it. Nothing more should be read into it."
External Affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "After the tweets of Minister Sushma Swaraj, our envoy in Washington told Amazon that while providing a platform to third party vendors, they should respect sentiments of Indians."
Mr Swarup said the ministry has been in touch with Amazon in New Delhi and Washington. "The talks have been constructive and the items have been pulled off," he added.
The Minister had tweeted:
Within days, Amazon withdrew the product and apologized - but not before a fresh controversy was triggered. Tweeple pointed to the sale of the flip flops with the face of Mahatma Gandhi, posting screen grabs and expressing outrage.
Advertisement
"Amazon, better behave. Desist from being flippant about Indian symbols & icons. Indifference will be at your own peril," Mr Das said in a tweet.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Woman Dies After Jumping Off Elevated Platform At Delhi Metro Station: Cops No Coercive Action Against Delhi Home Buyers Over EMI Payment By Banks, Builders: Supreme Court Amazon Prime Day 2024 Sale to Bring Discounts on OnePlus 12, MacBook Air M1, iPhone 13 and More World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 4 Passengers Die As 12 Coaches Of Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derail In UP Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report No Coercive Action Against Delhi-NCR Home Buyers Over EMI: Supreme Court 60 Rare Siamese Crocodiles Hatch In Cambodia In A Conservation Win Publish NEET-UG Results City-Wise And Centre-Wise, Supreme Court Tells NTA Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.