TORONTO — Amazon has apologized to India's foreign minister for selling doormats depicting the Indian flag on the online shopping giant's Canadian website.
The head of the retailer in India sent the apology to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday, according to a tweet by a ministry spokesperson.
The statement, which was posted on Twitter under the verified account of spokesperson Vikas Swarup, said Amazon is committed to respecting the laws and customs in India.
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
In India, insulting the national flag is punishable with fines and imprisonment.
Amit Agarwal, vice-president and country manager of Amazon India, said in a statement the company "regrets" the sale of the offending items, noting that they were offered by a third-party seller in Canada.
Indian High Commission in Canada : This is unacceptable. Please take this up with Amazon at the highest level. https://t.co/L4yI3gLk3h
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
"At no time did we intend or mean to offend Indian sentiments," Agarwal said.
Minister Swaraj had lashed out on Tuesday at Amazon on Twitter, threatening to deny Indian visas to any Amazon employees if the company did not apologize and "withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately."
"If this is not done forthwith, we will not grant an Indian visa to any Amazon official. We will also rescind the visas issued earlier," Swaraj tweeted.
Amazon must tender unconditional apology. They must withdraw all products insulting our national flag immediately. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 11, 2017
"At not time did we intend or mean to offend Indian sentiments," it said.
The Canadian third-party seller — which also sells mats with other national flags, including the U.S., U.K. and Canada — removed the Indian-themed product, following Swaraj's Twitter threat.
Swaraj had also ordered the embassy in Canada to take up the matter with Amazon "at the highest level."
Arun Kumar Sahu, acting High Commissioner of India to Canada, said the situation has now been resolved.
When asked if the embassy will pursue any further action, Sahu said from Ottawa there wouldn't be anything to follow. "At least I don't have any instructions on this," he added.
The doormats had outraged many people among the Indian diaspora in Canada, who posted pictures of them on social media and urged the foreign minister to formally object.
Last year, there were protests after the online marketplace offered doormats depicting Hindu gods.
A spokesperson for Amazon Canada declined to provide any additional comment.
MORE National ARTICLES
Ottawa, Ontario Give Grants Of $42M Each To Honda For Ontario Plant
ALLISTON, Ont. — The federal and Ontariogovernments are each providing Honda Canada with grants of up to $41.8 million for upgrades and research and development at its operations in Alliston, Ont.
Ottawa, Ontario Give Grants Of $42M Each To Honda For Ontario Plant
Marco Muzzo Argues For Reduction In $25M Lawsuit For Drunk-Driving Deaths That Killed 4
A drunk driver who killed three children and their grandfather in a collision north of Toronto in 2015 says he is liable for the crash, but argues the amount of damages sought by the family of his victims is too high.
Marco Muzzo Argues For Reduction In $25M Lawsuit For Drunk-Driving Deaths That Killed 4
Victoria Faces Property Shortages While More Move In For Lifestyle Change
VICTORIA — It's still the dead of winter in much of Canada, but in Victoria daffodils and crocuses are about to begin sprouting, marking the unofficial signal to start another real estate season for anxious home buyers and sellers.
Victoria Faces Property Shortages While More Move In For Lifestyle Change
Ex-Medic In Military Court To Face Charges Of Sex Assault, Breach Of Trust
GATINEAU, Que. — A former Canadian Armed Forces medical technician appeared today in military court for pre-trial arguments on charges stemming from examinations he performed at Ontario recruiting centres.
Ex-Medic In Military Court To Face Charges Of Sex Assault, Breach Of Trust
Border Agency Weighed Torture Risk Before Allowing Chinese Official's Testimony
The Canada Border Services Agency also scrutinized Wei Huang's history to see if he should even be allowed to enter Canada to testify in the case of Shiyuan Shen, a refugee claimant wanted in China for alleged fraud, court documents show.
Border Agency Weighed Torture Risk Before Allowing Chinese Official's Testimony
High Risk Sex Offender Michael Wayne Carpenter Now Living In Vancouver
The Vancouver Police Department believes that compelling circumstances exist to warn the public about a high-risk sexual offender who is now living in Vancouver.